Kalsey seeks to vault with the best in the country
This is the fourth in a series of articles over the next year where we follow the progress of our local Olympic hopefuls.
Grasping a fiberglass pole and sprinting down a runway with the intent of vaulting over a 1½-story structure is an ambitious endeavor, to say the least.
So, it’s not surprising an athlete who attempts such an impressive feat would have the ambition to do so against the best of the country and, hopefully, the finest in the world.
That’s just the ambition Waynesburg Central graduate Marissa Kalsey has as she enters her senior year at Westminster College. A three-time indoor and three-time outdoor All-America in the pole vault, Kalsey aspires to meet the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials standard in order to compete against the best vaulters in the United States.
The 2016 Olympic standard in the women’s pole vault is 4.50 meters (14-9¼), the same “A” standard for the 2012 U.S. trials. The “B” standard four years ago was 4.30 meters (14-1¼).
The “A” standard is a guaranteed berth into the trials, while the “B” standard allows an athlete to qualify if the field is not filled because not enough attained the “A” standard.
Kalsey’s personal best is 4.05 meters (13-3½), so she understands there is work to be done before the window closes next summer when the trials are held July 1-10, 2016, at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
But, she is up to the challenge, especially with the support and belief of those around her.
“Bradi (Rhoades, a fellow Waynesburg graduate who coaches vaulters at Westminster) said the first time he saw me vault (in high school), he saw it. Bradi was really the one who helped me realize it,” explained Kalsey. “People don’t realize just how hard it is.”
Kalsey wasn’t as convinced, until she had an epiphany this past outdoor season on a failed vault.
“It’s only been recently I’ve start to believe it. It was at Slippery Rock outdoors this spring,” said Kalsey.
Kalsey had 13-8 (4.17 meters) easily cleared, but hit the bar with her upper body on the way down.
“I see it in practice, but not in a meet,” said Kalsey. “But, I had (13-8) cleared and hit it on the way down.”
Kalsey has had success at all levels of competition. She won three WPIAL Class AA titles in the pole vault and was runner-up once, and still holds the Class AA meet record at 12-6. Kalsey was 15th in the state as a freshman, but finished second, third and first in her final three seasons.
Kalsey steadily progressed through her four years, going from 10 feet as a freshman to 12-6 as a senior.
The success followed her to Westminster and the Division III level. She was third indoors (3.95 meters, 12-11½) and fifth outdoors (3.65 meters, 12-3) as a freshman. Kalsey was second indoors both as a sophomore and junior, clearing 3.95 meters in 2014 and a then personal-best 13-1 (4.0 meters) in 2015. She was third outdoors in 2014 (3.85 meters, 12-7) and second this spring with a personal-best mark of 4.05 meters (13-3½).
Kalsey keeps a journal of every vault and understands she has the capability to hit the next level.
“Thirteen feet was more of a plateau. Now, I need to get one of the higher heights, 14 (feet), out,” said Kalsey. “I’ve had the jumps where I hit everything at the same time.
“I’m going to a longer pole. I’m getting on a 14-7 pole when I get back to school. You should be able to clear your hand grip. Bradi says you can get a foot over your grip.”
Kalsey doesn’t vault much over the summer, saying, “I need a break from vaulting. The season is so long. I have to get all the super-hard training in now because we don’t have time during the season.”
Female pole vaulters seem to peak in their late 20s or early 30s, so Kalsey is “young” when compared to the veterans of the sport. Still, that hasn’t swayed her approach or her support group’s belief in her.
“Bradi told me a while ago that if I decide to try for the trials, then to commit to it. So, that’s what I’m doing. The past few years I’ve been changing my training (harder workouts, better nutrition, better mentality) to achieve the best I can,” said Kalsey. “I’m trying to be very hopeful. I don’t have a lot of time (to reach the standard).”
Kalsey has self-doubt, but her family and support group work hard to help her get past those doubts.
“My family and my teammates are the most supportive people,” praised Kalsey. “That’s a big dream. That’s huge. My dad (Rick) has been a second coach to me.
“(Teammate) Cassidy (Shepherd) and I are always pushing each other. Brooke Mancuso (another teammate) talks to me about this dream.”
Kalsey expects she’ll continue vaulting after graduating next spring, so whether “the dream” comes sooner (2016) or later (2020), she’ll keep pursuing a berth into the U.S. Olympic trials with the hope of one day vaulting in the Olympic Games.