Trevor Woods Article

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http://www.registerguard.com/news/2004/ ... .0421.html

Reaching for old heights: Trevor Woods works to regain his past form

By Bob Rodman 
The Register-Guard

It has been two years since Trevor Woods danced with the high bar and the high acclaim that accompanied it.

Two years since the all-American kid from Marshfield High tested the pull of gravity by pole vaulting 18 feet, 1/2 inch, the fifth-best jump in Oregon track and field history.

Two years since he came within a miss or two of an NCAA Indoor championship.

"As a freshman and a sophomore, I was jumping high," said Woods, now a 22-year-old senior for the Ducks and preparing to compete in his event during the twilight portion of Saturday's Oregon Invitational at Hayward Field. "It all felt good.

"But because I wanted to jump higher, I took a step back."

Several steps back, it seems.

Decisions were made to make some adjustments in Woods' vaulting technique, to tinker with his approach run, his takeoff and the swing, among other things.

"The run and the takeoff are the most vital parts to the vault," Woods said. "From a fraction of a second when you leave the ground, a vault can be made or missed.

"When you are under (leaving the ground too late), the pole is ripping you off the ground and you can't be active and aggressive. There are so many little things.

"I believe I can be a 19-foot vaulter," he said, "but I'm having to take some steps down to go back up ... and it is extremely frustrating."

His sophomore season was as good as it gets. The 6-foot-3 Woods secured that personal record of 18- 1/2 during a dual meet against Washington, though it has been the only 18-foot vault of his career.

Earlier that year, he vaulted 17-11 3/4 and finished third at the national indoor meet.

"I jumped under 17 feet just twice during my sophomore year," he said. "As a junior, I jumped over 17 feet just twice. It was the toughest sports year of my life.

"I went from being an elite college pole vaulter to jumping barely above average. That was tough on the pride," said Woods, whose outdoor season best last year was 17-8 1/2 and top performance thus far this season is 16-9 1/4 .

"I accepted the challenges that I knew would come with the changes we were making, but I did not think they would last as long as they have."

Woods stormed into the Oregon spotlight after a sterling high school career as a track, basketball and football star at Marshfield.

Only a broken leg, sustained during the state football playoffs in his senior year, slowed him down.

"Throughout high school, success always came. I considered myself at the top of whatever I was doing. I had a lot of confidence," he said.

At Oregon, he followed in the hallowed footsteps of famed Duck pole vaulters. The latest at the time was Piotr Buciarski, a two-time Pac-10 Conference champion who stands fourth on the UO top-10 list at 18-2 1/2 .

"The first couple of years," Woods said, "I was the top guy. I was jumping high and getting the praise.

"But because I wanted to jump higher, I took the step down. I knew it would not come without struggles and frustrations."

As his senior season began, Woods witnessed the arrival of Tommy Skipper, the freshman phenom who was in a Duck uniform for all of a month before setting the school record with a vault of 18-8 3/4 .

"I don't feel like the guy in-between," Woods said. "I'm proud of the accomplishments and of having jumped 18 feet."

Woods has benefited from Buciarski and Skipper. "I get to train with these guys. They help me and I help them," he said. "Tommy and I talk a lot (they are roommates on the road) and we both believe we can be 19-foot vaulters.

"We're both going through some frustration. I think if I had been on my own, I would have quit by now."

But do not, he insisted, feel sorry for Trevor Woods.

"There is nothing to be sad about for me," he said.

Woods' vault coach at Oregon, Mark Vanderville, agreed.

"We both believe that we will work out these technical things," said Vanderville, who in previous seasons coached the UO women's team pole vaulters but this season is mentoring the men and women.

"We can see the potential and the benefits. The things we want to happen will start to happen."

Woods refers to the entire experience as one of those "lessons in life. It has been hard to not PR in two years," he said. "It's humbling. It has tested the mettle of my character.

"It's easy to get down, to lack confidence. But it is OK. Wherever God takes me. Whatever I tackle, I will be successful. I know that I will be stronger from this."

And, if the vault plan is executed, higher, too.

OREGON'S HIGH-FLYER LIST

Trevor Woods is one of just six pole vaulters in Oregon track and field history to have cleared 18 feet

Name Height Year

1, Tommy Skipper 18-8 3/4 2004

2, Kory Tarpenning 18-6 1/2 1985

3, Tom Hintnaus 18-4 1/2 1980

4, Piotr Buciarski 18-2 1/2 1999

5, tie, Trevor Woods 18-1/2 2002

Jay Davis 18-1/2 1986

7, Tim Canfield 17-10 1/2 1986

8, Brian Cullen 17-9 1/4 1990

9, John Switzer 17-9 1980

10, Jeromy Williams 17-8 1/2 1995