Using a long skinny pole to catapult yourself over a really high bar sounds nothing short of terrifying.
For Bailey Howard, it’s all in a day’s work.
The GRC junior is the Kentucky KHSAA Indoor Track Pole Vault state champion and shattered the overall state record on her way to the gold.
“I was so excited,” she said. “I didn’t even know going in what the state record was, so it was a big surprise. My only goal was to PR (achieve a personal record) so I was glad to be able to keep growing in my own vaulting.”
With a jump of 12 feet, 6 inches, Bailey literally moved the bar higher for Kentucky’s female pole vaulters.
A former gymnast, Bailey tried pole vault on a whim.
“I started pole vault because of my mom’s friend,” she explains. “Her daughter did pole vault and I heard gymnasts were good at it so I tried it and have loved it ever since.”
Loving it has resulted in wild success both in high school and club competitions.
Bailey will compete at the New Balance Nationals indoor meet Saturday as a competitor for the Kaizen Pole Vault Club, based in Richmond. The meet draws the nation’s finest track athletes and requires a pole vault qualifying standard of 12 feet for entry.
Due to her success with Kaizen, Bailey was named USA Track and Field Youth Female Field Event Athlete of the Year in February.
While Bailey hopes to continue pole vaulting at the collegiate level, for now she’s enjoying the current opportunities the sport is making possible.
She will jump for GRC’s outdoor track and field team this spring and continue her involvement in the club.
For our new state champion, track and field is all about community.
“I go to a meet and I recognize almost every face,” she says. “The support and friendships I have made through the sport are definitely my favorite part.”
So what exactly is the feeling when she’s soaring high in the air?
“I really don’t feel anything honestly,” she said. “It’s so fast that I’m just focused on not falling on the ground. It is important to be confident and commit to your jump otherwise nothing will work.”
Clearly, for Bailey Howard, it’s working.
