The 7-to-9 shift

Austin Decker clears 14 feet last weekend at the Viking Invitational at North Salinas High. He eventually cleared 14 feet, 9 inches. Decker is trying to become the fifth North Monterey County High student-athlete to clear 15 feet in an official meet. (Glenn Cravens/Register-Pajaronian)

Clearing 15 feet in the pole vault is a possibility. At North Monterey County High, four student-athletes have done it in an official track meet.

Austin Decker has cleared 15 feet. He accomplished the feat at the school’s fundraiser meet earlier this spring. The excitement was tempered with the fact that the meet wasn’t official.

In his head, he knows he can join Keith Rayburn, David Grijalva, Joey Lippman and Mike James as the only Condors to do it officially.

Last weekend, at North Salinas High School, he stared down the crossbar, which stood 15 feet high. He raced down the line twice but was unable to do it.

He waited a little bit longer to go on his final attempt. He raced down the line, and he clipped the bar on his attempt to go over.

The crowd applauded the effort.

“I was having a little bit of trouble with my run,” Decker said. “I hope that at Top 8, I can perfect it.”

For the complete article see the 04-21-2012 issue.

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