Daven Murphree lives on his grandparents’ ranch with his mother Dina. Only a junior in high school, he has already won the State Pole Vaulting Class 2A title twice, and came in second to the high school world record holder in Houston at the Junior Olympics. His grandfather, Lee Murphree has been a real influence on Daven’s performance and on his development as a young man. Daven started pole vaulting in the 8th grade, and his grand father took Daven to a private coach for four years and where both Daven and Lee have learned alot about the sport. So Lee works closely with Daven on his technique, and on his training routine. Like the Olympians we just saw in England, Daven is working to test just how far he can go. Can he reach the potential God gave him? And yet, when he competed in New York at a national meet, The New Balance Indoor Meet at the Armory in Manhattan. observers were stunned at Daven’s willingness to work with other Texan vaulters he was competing with; to help them do better and improve. This shared comraderie betwee the five Texans who participated in the event relfects something special and yet common to athletes from Texas. This sure didn’t look like the “cut throat” competitive spirit of some one who sees only winning as important. Must be a Christian thing, or maybe it’s a country thang? Or may be a Texas thang! .
Daily Archives: August 13, 2012
Bruce Jenner has words about Usain Bolt
Olympian Bruce Jenner has some words for Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, a six-time gold medalist sprinter between the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics. Bolt recently updated his Twitter bio to read “the greatest athlete of all time.” He has since changed it to, “The most naturally gifted athlete the world has ever seen.” Jenner, who won gold in the decathlon at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, says that the “greatest of all time” title is not necessarily the case. “He’s the best sprinter,” Jenner tells TMZ. But adds, “He can’t pole vault, he can’t throw anything … that’s an athlete.” And Jenner makes it clear that decathletes are the “most athletic” and that Bolt “would be terrible” at the decathlon.
Spiderman or Superman? Who wins in a Superhero pole vault battle?
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – If watching the Olympics got you hooked on track and field, more specifically on pole vaulting, have I got an event for you today.They’re calling it the Superhero’s Pole Vault competition and it is exactly what you think it is.Starting at 10 a.m. this morning at Rockford High School, you can watch pole vaulters of all ages compete for prizes in numerous age and gender categories.But there’s one prize I’m most interested in. I really want to see who wins the best superhero costume award.You see all of the competitors are being asked to dress up as their favorite superhero.I’m expecting a lot of Spiderman, Superman, and Catwoman. I’m curious if anyone will go for the Incredible Hulk. I can’t imagine that guy getting much lift.Sponsored by KP Athletics, more information can be found at www.grandhavenbeachvault.com. It’s just one of those off the wall events you might not have heard about and will want to check out. Besides Superman, who can fly, which of the Superheroes would have the most unfair advantage? Maybe we’ll find out today.
Flashback: Suhr steps up to claim Pole Vault ultimate prize
London, UK – Jennifer Suhr took the big, significant step up here in London from Olympic Pole Vault silver medallist, which she became in Beijing four years ago, to Olympic gold medallist, against a field which included the Russian who has been her, and every other vaulter’s nemesis over the past decade, Yelena Isinbayeva.
When a final failure at 4.75m by Yarisley Silva had confirmed a silver for the Cuban on count-back, Suhr ran over for an emotional embrace with her husband and coach, Rick, with whom she works in a hut they constructed themselves in the back yard of their home in Rochester, New York. This was a truly home-grown victory.
When Suhr was asked on the eve of the 2011 Daegu World Championships how she handled working with a coach who was also her husband, she replied with a smile: “You have to learn how to keep cool at all times. And, when you train in your back yard, you have to learn how to joke, I guess. Continue reading
maine holds a state track meet
BREWER, Maine — Youth sports is a time when kids find out which ones they like and which ones they’re good at. In a sport such as track and field, the decision becomes even more fine-tuned as they try out different events. The youth state championship meet was held Sunday by the Maine Association of USA Track and Field at the new Brewer Community School track and field facility. Approximately 900 boys and girls were split among four age groups — mite (8 and under), bantam (9-10), midget (11-12) and youth (13-14), plus some intermediate (15 and not yet in high school). 14 year olds Cayd Wortman of Brewer and Jake Koffman matched heights in the pole vault (8-6), but Wortman earned the win by having fewer misses.“I was feeling a lot of pressure. [Koffman] has always been ahead of me,” said Wortman, whose Brewer Track Club became meet host because the facility at Cony High in Augusta is being renovated. Koffman likes the pole vault. “It’s so technical, there are so many parts to it,” said Hoffman. “You have to practice a lot to get the form down.” http://bangordailynews.com/2012/08/12/sports/koffman-wintle-successes-show-sports-appeal-at-state-youth-track-and-field-meet/
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