Jackson's pole vaulters hope to set the bar at state meet

Say the phrase "track and field" and the first images that come to mind are of speedy sprinters, graceful runners and jumpers, and muscular throwers.

Pole vaulters are often an afterthought, but it just so happens that Jackson High School fields some of the top vaulters in the state, three of whom will vie for state titles when the Class 4 Missouri State Track and Field Championships get underway today at Dwight T. Reed Stadium on the campus of Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Senior Sierra Maddox, the defending state champion and favorite to win on the girls' side, has an even loftier goal in mind: A state-record vault. She's already cleared 12 feet, 9 inches this season, and a similar vault this weekend will give her the MSHSAA-recognized state record.

Fellow senior Dylan Rush, who placed third last year at the state meet, has vaulted 15-6 this season, five inches higher than his nearest competitor on the boys' side. And sophomore Dakota Maddox, Sierra's younger brother, has his sights set on medaling after clearing 14-6 earlier this spring.

Why the influx of vaulting talent at one school located deep in the heart of Southeast Missouri? Look no further than the men who keenly watch each and every vault the three perform throughout the season, in competitions as well as countless practices throughout the seasons and beyond.

Jackson pole vaulters Dakota Maddox, second from left, Dylan Rush and Sierra Maddox will compete at the Class 4 state track and field championships this weekend under the tutelage of veteran coaches Tim Rademaker, left, and Bob Sink, right. Sierra Maddox is the defending state champion in the event, while Rush finished third as a junior last season. TOP: Sierra Maddox clears the bar in a victorious performance at the SEMO Conference North meet earlier this season. (Laura Simon)

Their coaches.

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Tim Rademaker has a long and storied career in pole vaulting, first as a high school athlete in Strongsville, Ohio, and into his collegiate career at Southeast Missouri State. The longtime teacher has also been an assistant track coach at SEMO as well as head coach at Central.

Bob Sink may not have grown up as a vaulter in Oklahoma, but the former school teacher coached track at Jackson from 1971 to 2007 and has worked with his share of outstanding athletes over the years.

"They definitely know what they're talking about," Rush said. "They break it down into smaller steps, which is really hard to do for pole vault because there's so many. Whatever they've been doing, it's been working for us. We've been jumping really good."

Jackson's Sierra Maddox clears 12 feet in the pole vault event Friday, May 9, 2014 during the SEMO Conference track meet at Central High School. (Fred Lynch)

The coaches have been with their vaulters every step of the way, teaching them the proper steps, how to carry the pole down the runway, how to plant the pole, technique and form while ascending and at the top of the vault, and how to land properly in the pit.

"When we were younger, they would watch us just jump into the sand pit," Dakota Maddox said. "That's how they started us out, just help us get used to what we're supposed to do when we get to the pit."

As each vaulter improved, there would be heavier and longer poles to conquer and form and techniques to refine. All three credited their coaches with helping them master even the smallest detail in a vault.

"No way I could be the vaulter I am now," Dakota Maddox said.

Sierra Maddox credits Rademaker and Sink with helping her conquer the mental challenges that accompany every vault.

"If you don't have that, you're not going to be able to overcome the fears, or if you're having a bad day," she said. "You've got to be mentally tough to overcome certain things."

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As much as Rush and both Maddoxes credit their coaches, Rademaker and Sink pour the credit right back to their students. Both cited the hard work and dedication all three bring to the field each day.

"Part of it is their work ethic," Sink said. "They're pretty passionate about the event. It's a big deal for [Sierra]. And it is for Dylan, too.

"Dylan's a hard worker, and he does what you ask him to do. He's capable of making the changes that need to be made to improve. A lot of kids have a hard time making changes. That's something you've got to be able to do. You've got to be able to adjust."

That was never more evident than earlier this season at the Jackson Invitational, where Rush aimed to set a new meet record. He easily cleared 15 feet, but failed on his first two attempts at 15-6. The two talked form and strategy, and Rush changed to a longer pole that required a little more strength and stamina.

He then cleared 15-6, setting a new meet record and tying the school record on his final attempt.

"We've been really lucky to get the talent that we've had," Rademaker said. "Sierra is the perfect storm for this event, to be honest with you, because she's really passionate about it. She's an incredibly hard worker and she's very athletic. She hasn't missed a practice since she's been in the eighth grade. In fact she calls us up a lot of times and wants to practice more."

Both chuckled when remembering what it was like working with Rush when he started vaulting back in junior high.

"We almost ran Dylan off," Rademaker laughed. "He came out in the seventh grade. We didn't know if he was going to make it or not. He was having some hard times changing some things, but the light seemed to go on and he seemed to understand the event, really started to improve. He just really took off. By the time he was in the ninth grade, he was jumping 13 feet, which is a great jump for a freshman. We're sure glad we didn't run him off, I'll tell you that."

Their successes have paved the way for younger vaulters, like Dakota Maddox, who is able to practice with some of the state's top vaulters day in and day out.

"Dakota's a rookie, he's a sophomore, so he's still trying to figure his way through this thing," Rademaker said. "Bob almost ran him off until he found out he was Sierra's brother. So he said, 'OK, come on back here.'

"He's finding out how difficult it is to make some of those changes and do it consistently. But he's learning, and he's improving. He's a really talented kid. I don't think he understands how talented he is yet, but it should be dawning on him soon."

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Spectators at a track meet may focus on the seven or eight seconds it takes for a vaulter to sprint down the runway, plant the pole and perform the vault. But there's much more than what meets the eye, starting with the pre-vault preparation.

That's when the coach and athlete get together and discuss things like form, technique or changing equipment.

"Usually, if I'm on my pole real good, I'll say, 'Coach, we probably need to go up [heavier or longer pole] or I need to move my grip' or something so we can transition into a better jump," Rush said. "Usually if we end up talking, it's what I'm doing right, what am I doing wrong, and then if I need to go up a pole and what I need to do on that next jump."

Usually, the coaches only need to say a few words to get their point across. Then it's up to the vaulter to get in the correct frame of mind to attempt the jump.

"He's just telling us that we need to tweak a little bit of something just to make the jump a little bit better," Rush said. "Usually if we visualize, it's right before we jump. Sometimes I'll close my eyes and kind of visualize what I'm supposed to be doing. It seems to help."

Sierra Maddox enjoys watching other competitors, and silently critiques their vaults in an effort to improve her own.

"I do a lot of breathing, because I get really nervous and excited," she said. "I do visualize a little bit, mostly when I'm sitting down. ... Just watching other people helps me, too."

The athletes have helped each other as well. When Sierra Maddox was struggling with additional weight on her 13-foot pole, Sink and Rademaker moved her to a 14-foot pole and, according to the coaches, it's made a huge difference in her vaulting.

Rush also was struggling with a heavier pole, but noticed the improvement in Maddox's vaulting and decided to take a page from her book.

"He said, 'Coach, why don't we try some 16-foot poles,'" Rademaker said. "We put him on 16-foot poles [Tuesday] for the first time and he did tremendous with them. It's just a gradual process of learning the right mechanics and getting stronger and faster."

That willingness to try something new sets them apart from most other athletes.

"What's nice with these kids is there's no fear here," Rademaker said. "With a lot of vaulters, there's a fear factor involved, because you're running down a runway trying to throw yourself upside down 15, 16, 17 feet in the air. And a lot of kids struggle with the fear factor. These kids, there's nothing like that. Whatever you ask them to do, they're going to do it. They're going to try it. It's just a pleasure to coach them."

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Vaulters come in all shapes and sizes. Dakota Maddox stands nearly 6-foot with a lean build. Rush is shorter and a bit stockier, looking every bit the 145-pound state wrestling qualifier. Sierra Maddox's petite frame and shy demeanor belie her fierce, competitive instincts.

"I think it takes the most athletic person in track and field to do this," Rademaker said. "It's a combination of sprinting and jumping and gymnastics, and it combines just about everything."

They may look different, but they all possess key traits that make for a successful vaulter.

"The biggest thing Dylan's got going for him is his toughness," Sink said. "Things don't bother him. It can be freezing cold, and he'll get out and jump just as high as he will on a good day. Some kids, if it doesn't feel right, they're in the tank. But he's not like that. And he's an extremely hard worker. He's been a tough wrestler for [wrestling coach] Steve [Wachter], and he's worked very hard for us."

"He's like Sierra in that regard," added Rademaker. "They're both incredibly hard workers. They're just great kids to be around and work with and have around. It makes our job a lot more fun, dealing with kids like these three."

All have personal goals heading into this weekend's competition. The vaulters won't compete until Saturday.

Dakota Maddox's goal is to clear 15 feet for the first time.

"Fifteen feet, 15-3," he said. "One of those two. I believe that if I push myself, I can get it."

With the top boys vault of the season in his pocket, Rush knows he has a target on his back. That only serves to motivate him more.

"It just pushes me to tell everyone that I have something to prove," Rush said. "There's no doubt in my mind that I'm going to win because I want it worse than [other competitors]. There's no doubt in my mind that it'll happen."

With the girls' state record within her grasp, Sierra Maddox doesn't want this chance to slip away. The MSHSAA state mark of 12-5 was set by Branson's Tara Diebold in 2007. Maddox cleared a school record 12-6 at last year's state meet, and has matched it on numerous occasions this season.

"I'm really tough on myself," she said. "If I don't get that, I'm always kind of disappointed, but I'm striving for that. And I'm striving to be the first girl vaulter to break 13 feet in the state of Missouri this year.

"I have to worry about what I have to do to make the vault perfect, and then the height will come with that."

Local state qualifiers

Class 4

Boys

Clay Darnell, Jackson (discus)

Gabe Dudley, Jackson (3200 relay)

Jack Jeffers, Jackson (3200 relay)

Nick Keser, Jackson (shot put)

Calvin Lysell, Jackson (3200 relay)

Dakota Maddox, Jackson (pole vault)

Blake Reimann. Jackson (high jump)

Dylan Rush, Jackson (pole vault)

Gabe Underwood, Jackson (3200 relay)

Girls

Ana Compton, Jackson (3200 relay)

Mollie Cunningham, Jackson (3200 relay)

Chelsea Drum, Jackson (3200 relay)

Carli Knott, Jackson (400,3200 relay)

Sierra Maddox, Jackson (pole vault)

Morgan Stone, Jackson (200)

Class 3

Boys

Jordan Barber, Notre Dame (400,1600 relay, 3200 relay)

Collin Boner, Notre Dame (high jump)

Jordan Caruso, Notre Dame (110 hurdles)

Bobby Jansen, Notre Dame (high jump)

Nick LeGrand, Notre Dame (1600 relay, 3200 relay)

Rudy McClellan, Notre Dame (1,600, 3200 relay)

Devin Ross, Notre Dame (1600 relay)

Tyler Schumaker, Notre Dame (1600 relay, 3200 relay)

Girls

Marissa New, Notre Dame (discus)