Luke Schoen vaulting into prominence (Albany)

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http://www.newsday.com/sports/college/n ... 7817.story

Schoen vaulting into prominence
BY MARCUS HENRY | marcus.henry@newsday.com
7:09 PM EDT, April 3, 2009
From nearly giving up the event his sophomore year in high school to becoming a two-time NCAA All-American, University at Albany junior pole vaulter Luke Schoen has come a long way.

"I wasn't good when I first started and was ready to quit the vault . . . I really was'' said Schoen, who competed at West Islip. "I was a sprinter and a hurdler when I first started, but my coaches just kept pushing me.''

Schoen was referring to head coach Sal Laimo and vault coach Jim Dooley. "Coach Dooley was really persistent,'' Schoen said.

The prodding worked for Schoen, who set the school record (12 feet, 9 inches) during the outdoor season of his sophomore year. Schoen emerged as the state's top pole vaulter his senior year, winning the Federation outdoor championship with a then career-best vault of 15-6.


Schoen said winning the Federation championship was a crowning achievement in his career. But even that wasn't enough to convince the Bohemia native that he had the talent to be a star in college.

"In high school, even after winning the championship, becoming a college All-American never crossed my mind,'' Schoen said. "But a couple of months after I got to college, I realized I could really do something with it.'' Schoen's career has taken off. He became Albany's first outdoor Division I All-American after clearing 17-23/4 and placing fifth at the NCAA outdoor championships last spring. He set the program record earlier that season with a 17-5 vault.

Schoen followed that by clearing 17-61/2 for a sixth-place finish at the NCAA indoor championships on March 13, becoming Albany's second Division I indoor All-American.

Schoen attributed his rise to his technique as well as his body's maturity. "I progressed really fast . . . My vault improved by a foot my freshman year,'' Schoen said. "I was 5-10, 150 when I got here. Now I'm 6-1, 180."

Gaining All-American status is only the first step for Schoen, who said qualifying for the Olympics is also on his list of goals.

"I have a lot of other short-term goals for myself,'' Schoen said. "Winning the NCAA pole vault championship is very important. I want to at least finish better than sixth. And I also expect to clear 18 feet at some point this spring.'' Schoen started off on the right foot at the Raleigh Relays last weekend, taking first in the vault (17-3/4). He was named America East Field Performer of the week.