Date posted online

Date posted online: Sunday, May 20, 2007
Thanks to Gergel, pole vault also wins

Ken Karrson/Prep Beat

CHARLESTON | As Title IX approaches its 35th anniversary, the IHSA can be proud of the fact that it was only about 28 years behind the learning curve.

Now, don't misinterpret my remark. Illinois' governing body of prep sports never denied the state's female athletes access to their chosen activity -- as long as that activity wasn't the pole vault.

While the guys have long competed in track and field's most daredevil event, the girls never did until the arrival of the 21st century. Prior to that, their feet remained firmly planted on the ground, as the IHSA developed the 800-meter medley as a substitute event.

And let's give the IHSA credit for ingenuity. By creating a fifth relay race for the girls, it ostensibly was saying, "Hey, we're all for girls' participation. Look at how many more get to compete because of the medley."

For a long while, their argument was difficult to dispute. Every school had girls who wanted to run, and the medley indeed gave them another vehicle to do so.

Meanwhile, there was no outcry for involvement in the pole vault. But when one female in Illinois finally decided she wanted to give it a try, the landscape changed quickly -- and dramatically.

Perhaps the IHSA had initially wondered whether girls possessed the upper body strength to safely handle the pole vault, but modern training regimens gave female athletes better conditioning than ever before.

And now, for the first time, a local has brought home a pole vault championship. Marian Catholic's Melissa Gergel reigned supreme at the Class AA meet Saturday afternoon, her vault of 12 feet, 6 inches topping the field.

She may not have fully realized that her success could have a far-ranging effect.

Suddenly, south suburban kids will realize they don't have to automatically concede excellence in the pole vault to their well-heeled peers to the north and west. Gergel hopes her exploits do make a difference in that regard.

"At Marian, I'm the only girl pole vaulter, but maybe this will get some people to come out," she said. "Everyone thinks it's so dangerous, but, if you take precautions and you do it right, then you're good."

Gergel agreed that much of the IHSA's initial apprehension at girls doing the pole vault was probably rooted in the not-enough-strength argument.

"You really need the upper body strength if you want to get rotated, but I think the girls are coming into their own as far as pole vaulting goes," Gergel said. "You've got to go into it with an open mind and believe you can do it. That's key."

The last part of Gergel's statement was actually directed at any younger female athletes who may be mulling over the idea of future pole vaulting. However, it also could have been offered as past instruction to the IHSA in regard to its outdated thinking.

Fortunately for Gergel and whomever comes after her, the IHSA no longer needs to be taught.

This column is solely the writer's opinion. Reach him at kkarrson@nwitimes.com.