Dexter athlete vaults herself to record heights with positivity, work

There are several traits necessary in order to succeed at the pole vault, none more important than possessing a lack of fear.

“The vault is an event,” first-year Dexter High School track and field coach Chad Jamerson said recently, “that requires so much technique, so much focus, and sometimes a lot of guts.”

Bearcat junior athlete Abbie Lloyd is filled with “guts,” but also a great amount of perseverance and drive, which are massive reasons why she recently finished sixth in the MSHSAA Class 3 State Finals.

“It takes a lot of guts to swing your body with that pole,” Jamerson continued, “and catapult yourself because that is what it is, a catapult, to very uncomfortable heights.”

Lloyd did that at this year’s state finals, markedly better than she did on her first trip to the big stage a year ago.

As a sophomore, Lloyd didn’t make a clearing height in order to advance in the meet. However, she did so, by a large margin, this year.

“You could argue that she let the moment get away from her,” Jamerson said of last year. “She struggled. Her goal was to not only make it back to the state track meet but to get a clearing height.”

As a sophomore, Lloyd failed to clear 8 feet, 2 inches, which was the clearing height required to advance. However, her very first clearing attempt this year was 8 feet, 8 inches, which ended up being the lowest height of her four clearing attempts.

In her final attempt, she cleared 10 feet, 3 ½ inches, which set a new Bearcat record.

“Abbie is someone who found her own individual time to work at the vault,” Jamerson said.

Lloyd not only brought fearlessness to the runway, but also speed, strength, and coordination. But Jamerson said it might be her positivity that is her most beneficial trait.

“If you ever get the pleasure of sitting down and talking with Abbie,” Jamerson said, “you are going to be a better person. Her personality, and her outlook on life, are one of the most positive things that you can have.

“Everybody needs an Abbie Lloyd in their life. To couple her great personality with her positive outlook, and the effort that she puts in, she deserves every accolade, everything that she gets, because she is a great kid. She is obviously a hard worker, and now she is an All-State pole vaulter.”