Bethany Reinbolt Article (AR)

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http://www.thedailycitizen.com/articles ... orts01.txt

Searcy's high flier


By Terry Britt
The Daily Citizen
Saturday, April 23, 2005 10:39 PM CDT




Flying through the air with the greatest of ease, Searcy High School pole vaulter Bethany Reinbolt takes a practice vault during a recent workout at Lion Stadium. Reinbolt will be going for a third consecutive AAAAA-East championship in West Memphis on May 6. (Greg Benenati)


Bethany Reinbolt has nothing personal against the earth. She just doesn't care to be attached to it all the time, especially during track meets.

The Searcy High School senior is now gearing up for a shot at a third consecutive AAAAA-East conference championship in the pole vault.

That was not a misprint. Reinbolt is a pole vaulter.

In fact, she is the second girl in her family to compete for SHS in the event, following the footsteps of her older sister Brittany, who graduated in 2002.




"People are still surprised to find out. They usually think of boys doing that event," said Reinbolt.

Small wonder when one considers the complexity of making a successful vault - and the physical risk of failing. Even Searcy track coach Charlie Carroll stands in awe of Reinbolt's ability and bravery.


"You've got to halfway be a daredevil to do something like that," said Carroll. "Brittany was the first girl pole vaulter I knew of. The Reinbolts have set the standard in Searcy in that event in recent history...

"It takes a daring guy to pole vault, let alone a girl. People find it very intriguing," Carroll added.


For Reinbolt, nothing beats a day of soaring into the air for a few precious seconds before making a decent of from anywhere between eight to 10 feet onto a landing mat.

"That's the fun of it. When you get past the hard stuff, once you're up there, you feel like you're flying," said Reinbolt.

"The hard stuff" includes all of the technical aspects of pole vaulting. Not only do pole vaulters have to possess a keen sense of timing and balance in making a good plant of the pole, but they must also have extraordinary body control once they are in the air.

"You have to run your steps and you have to be able to plant the pole right and go over the bar with good form," said Reinbolt. "I used to do gymnastics and that helped with my strength and stuff. Going over the bar is similar to some moves in gymnastics."

She's had her share of scary moments, none more so than an indoor meet at Harding University last year when she hit the front of the plant box and fell backwards.

"But when you get a really good plant and clear the bar, it's awesome and you want to keep doing it again," she said.

Reinbolt's personal best is 10 feet, 2 inches, a mark she cleared as a sophomore. She has vaulted 9-6 this season.

Like any senior athlete, Reinbolt wants to finish her high school track story on a high note.

"I want to win the conference championship again and it will be the third year in a row if I do. I want to go back to the state meet and I want to go out strong," she said.