One of Anna Etherington's favorite subjects at school is physics.
At Saturday's Windy City Pole Vault Summit at Rolling Meadows, Barrington's sophomore pole vaulter said her class is studying energy.
One of the keys to success in pole vaulting?
"Energy," Etherington said after clearing a personal-best 9-feet-6 to take seventh place Saturday. "And speed."
"I find physics fascinating," she added. "But it's odd ... I get to apply it to sport."
Etherington was the first girl to record a personal-best vault on Saturday. The gathering was unique because music blared while the competitors performed and an energetic P.A. announcer kept things lively by attempting to fire up the spectators before big attempts.
The athletes' answers to off-beat inquiries on a questionnaire also were shared by Mr. P.A. throughout the afternoon.
Etherington had never had to perform in a such a setting. What helped was following the advice of her pole-vault coach, Mitch Beck.
"I don't want to know the height (beforehand), so I don't psych myself out," she said. "(Beck) doesn't want me to think about the height, and that has helped."
Coaching Etherington, Beck hinted, is one of his easiest duties.
"She has talent, and she's so coachable," he said. "We don't have an indoor practice pit (at the school), so Anna learns so much at meets.
"I just try to stay out of the way."
Fillies track and field coach Jody Gitelis also attended the summit, and was impressed with Etherington's approach in an activity that appears daunting -- and, at times, downright frightening.
"She's so calm, isn't she?" Gitelis said.
A shoulder injury to Barrington senior pole vaulter Erin Murray prevented her from participating Saturday.
"It's not serious; she just landed on it funny (at a recent meet)," Beck said. "We're hoping to get her back soon."
Jacobs senior Sarah Ross, an avid kick boxer, won the summit with an 11-3 effort.
Barrington competes at Friday's MSL Indoor Invite at Wheeling, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Barrington's boys team hits the fieldhouse at Wheeling for another MSL gathering the next day, beginning with prelims at 9:30 a.m.