http://www.mlive.com/sports/grand-rapid ... ulter.htmlStiff wind helps beach vaulters at Grand Haven
by Jeff Chaney | The Grand Rapids Press
Saturday July 18, 2009, 9:45 PM
Paul L. Newby II | The Grand Rapids PressRockford senior Sarah Birkmeier competes in the Grand Haven Beach Vault on Saturday. Birkmeier cleared 12 feet in the event.
GRAND HAVEN -- It may not have been perfect weather for sun bathers, but almost 300 pole vaulters who converged on Grand Haven City Beach this weekend did not mind.
Cold temperatures and cloudy skies hovered most of Friday and Saturday, but a strong wind that came off Lake Michigan helped assist vaulters who competed during the two days at the eighth annual Grand Haven Beach Vault.
"This is the coldest and windiest one," former Rockford High School and Grand Valley State vaulter Bethany Hecksel said. "But it wasn't bad because of that tailwind. Everyone was faster, and we had a lot of (personal best) jumps."
Hecksel, who has jumped in all eight of the beach vaults, won the Division 1 College Open title with a leap of 11 feet, 6 inches.
"This wasn't bad for pole vaulting," said the 2003 Rockford graduate, who won a state title with the Rams.
Paul L. Newby II | The Grand Rapids PressBryant Wilson competes in the Grand Haven Beach Vault on Saturday.
The weather wasn't bad for 75-year-old Bob Root, who won the Men's 75-79 age group with a jump of 7-6.
"This is my third beach vault, and after the first competition, I had no competitors anymore," said the Niles resident. "So I have to compete against myself, but that's OK because I really enjoy this. I do it for the spirit of competition, and to more or less keep me healthy. I don't want to sit around and grow old."
Event organizer Kevin Patterson said besides the cold weather and cloudy skies, the eighth beach vault has been a success.
"Other than the temperatures, it's been perfect," said Patterson, who coaches pole vault at Rockford. "We have a tailwind of about 10 to 15 miles per hour and the runways are fast. It's just that the temperatures have been chilly."
Asides from the approximately 300 vaulters, several thousand fans watched the juniors and high jumpers take to the runways Friday, and master, college and elite jumpers vault Saturday.
"(Friday) was jamming because 70 percent of our vaulters go then," Patterson said. "I'd say we had about 3,000 people come and go Friday, and 1,500 to 2,000 come and go today. We usually average between 5,000 and 8,000, so it was a good two days."
Here are the results from the weekend's competition:
Friday
GIRLS
• 14 and under -- Katie Callaghan, Whitmore Lake, 9 feet
• 15-16 D1 -- Elizabeth Herron, Indianapolis, 9-6
• 15-16 D2 -- Tori Wesley, Marine City, 11-0
• 17-18 D1 -- Kendra Miller, Plainwell, 9-6
• 17-18 D2 -- Sarah Birkmeier, Rockford, 12-0
BOYS
• 14-under -- Aaron Hughes, Cadillac, 10-9
• 15-16 D1 -- Carl Rayford, Livonia, 12-6
• 15-16 D2 -- Drew Volz, Bloomington Ind., 15-6
• 17-18 D1 -- Harry Shepperson, Avon Ind., 14 feet
• 17-18 D2 -- Tommy Stacey, Carol Stream Ill., 15-6
Saturday
MEN
• 25-29 -- Brian Finney, Canon Ohio, 14-1
• 30-34 -- Michael Lugas, Lorain Ohio, 14-0
• 35-39 -- Brent Dykstra, Wyoming, 13-0
• 40-44 -- Jim Fast, Eaton Rapids, 12-0
• 50-54 -- John Christanson, Stevens Point Wis., 9-6
• 55-59 -- Terry Woodward, Brighton, 10-0
• 65-69 -- Howard Booth, Gregory, 9-6
• 75-79 -- Bob Root, Niles, 7-6
WOMEN
• 25-29 -- Kristyn Buck, Brighton, 11-6
COLLEGE OPEN
• D1 women -- Bethany Hecksel, Rockford, 11-6
• D2 women -- Molly Bartkiewicz, Westlake Ohio, 12-6
• D1 men -- Jeremy Rogers, Hastings, 13-0
ELITE
• Men -- Darren Niedermeyer, Schaumburg Ill., 18-0
• Women -- Kylie Hutson, Terre Haute Ind., 14-3