Carly Dockendorf ascends to new heights

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Dockendorf ascends to new heights


BY DAN OLSON, COQUITLAM NOW JULY 23, 2010

Carly Dockendorf needs one more good jump to punch her ticket for a trip to India.
Photograph by: Ric Ernst, PNG
Carly Dockendorf reached a new height and is one jump closer to her goal.

Coming off a busy week that included meets in Tacoma and Burnaby, the Port Moody native pointed her pole vault to Seattle's Alki Beach Swashbuckler competition recently with some bold confidence.

The five-foot-two-inch vaulter went pole-to-pole with American Mary Saxer in what turned into a jump off, requiring an extra attempt before clearing 4.45 metres and the Commonwealth Games standard.

"I think my first thought was, 'It's about time!'" Dockendorf told the NOW via e-mail."My next thought was, 'OK, now I need to do it again.'"

The Washington Huskies alumna and former NCAA standout gymnast continues to climb the pole-vaulting ladder.

A busy schedule like the current month provides plenty of momentum for major events like the Commonwealth Games. The trick, as always, is getting there.

Her performance at the Burnaby-hosted Harry Jerome International Track and Field Classic fell short of her goal, but provided the boost for success. She placed fourth at the Jerome, clearing 4.20 metres.

"I believe that if you put in the hard work it will always pay off," Dockendorf, 27, said. "This year I have been working really hard and sacrificing a lot of things to reach my goals.

"Harry Jerome was frustrating because I knew that I had great and consistent practices with my coach Pat Licari leading up to it, so to only jump 4.20 was disappointing."

With that behind her, she changed course, choosing to return to her home base of Seattle and miss a Victoria meet. It proved to be the right choice.

"I love jumping in Victoria, but I also needed to do what was best for me and I felt like getting a few meets with my coach would help my confidence," she said. "Jumping 4.30 in Seattle (before the Alki Beach competition) gave me confidence for (Alki)."

That 4.30 had been a steady mark this year, after only hitting it once during 2009, and demonstrated to her that she was on the right track. Getting over it was the next hurdle.

"This year I have jumped (4.30) over seven times. I have had a few attempts at 4.45 m and have been close to making it ... I believe a combination of solid training days and having (Licari) there was key to making this height," she said.

"Pat has a great eye for the event and also it also allows me to focus on what I need to do and just be the athlete and not have to play both the athlete and coach roles."

Her spot at the Commonwealth Games, slated for India in October, is just one step from completion.

Last on her checklist is to place in the top-three at the nationals later this month.

Because the Commonwealth Games represent a personal benchmark -- as a teenage gymnast she walked away from the sport on the eve of the 1998 Games in Malaysia -- she has set her sights on reaching that target.

"I wasn't ready to go mentally or continue to train at that elite level to compete for Canada (in 1998) at such a major event. I have battled a lot of hurdles in my athletic career and all along the way there has been this constant voice inside me that keeps telling me to push through it," Dockendorf said. "Making the team will prove to me that I am capable of accomplishing anything I put my mind to in life."



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