Kalsey vaults in first USATF Indoor Championships
Waynesburg Central graduate Marissa Kalsey participated in the women's pole vault Saturday at the 2018 USATF Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, N.M.
Submitted photo
Waynesburg Central graduate Marissa Kalsey participated in the women’s pole vault Saturday at the 2018 USATF Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, N.M.
Marissa Kalsey is an eight-time Division III All-American, but the Waynesburg Central and Westminster College graduate vaulted at a whole different level Sunday when she competed in the USATF Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, N.M.
Kalsey was one of four women to no-height the opening height of 4.26 meters (13-11¾). Although she wanted to clear the bar at least once, the experience and knowledge she gathered will pay dividends down the line in vaulting career.
“This was my first big competition,” said Kalsey. “That was nothing like nationals, pressure-wise. The people there were at an entirely different level.
“I was not used to, or prepared for, that. It’s weird I’m even here.”
The field included Jenn Suhr, who won Olympic gold in 2012 and silver in 2008, and Sandi Morris, the Olympic silver medalist in 2016. The field of 15 vaulters at the Albuquerque Convention Center included four of the world’s top 10.
Kalsey was quite aware of the level of competition.
“I was starstruck,” explained Kalsey. “They are my idols. I look up to them. I watched videos of (Jenn Suhr) to help my form.
“It was hard to remember they’re girls just like you. I was hard to try to not get overly nervous.”
Kalsey got wrapped up in all the hype she created and had a difficult time in her first indoor national championship, starting with her warm-up.
“I had to calm my nerves and not try too hard. You do so many things wrong. I couldn’t get in the zone,” said Kalsey. “My warm-ups were not great. The runway was so fast. I was told that, to be prepared to be on bigger poles.
“(The runway) was very fast. I was on one of my biggest poles in warm-ups. That never happens.”
The opening height was 4.26 meters (13-11¾), the height she recently cleared at Vanderbilt’s Music City Challenge. She earned a spot in the national meet when she cleared 4.25 meters (13-11¼) in January at the Clemson Bob Pollock Invitational.
“I definitely want 14 (feet). It was upsetting they didn’t put it at 14,” Kalsey said of the Vanderbilt meet.
“I was opening at my PR (personal best),” said Kalsey. “I thought it would take a lot more (to qualify).”
Kalsey, Kelly Long, Lauren Chorny and Shay Petty all came up short at the opening height.
“My second jump was my best, the closest,” said Kalsey. “It was one of the few jumps I actually did what I was supposed to do.
Katie Nageotte cleared 4.91 meters (16-1¼) for the gold medal. She’ll be joined on Team USA for the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Birmingham, England, on March 1-4, by Morris, who cleared 4.86 meters (15-9¼). Suhr was third with a top vault of 4.81 meters (15-7¼).
“Everyone was so supportive. Everyone was cheering, even the ones who were out (of the competition),” said Kalsey. “It was a great atmosphere.”
Kalsey now lives in Knoxville, where she trains with Tim Mack, Olympic gold medalist in 2004. She works part-time at a bible school and is teaching kindergarten, while training full time.
“He coaches with a group of elites. He’s done a lot of things different. I’ve learned a lot,” said Kalsey. “I’ve improved already. I never get my lifetime PR indoor.”
Kalsey’s supporters, much like Steeler fans, travel well and were in full force.
“My family came out. My fiance (Dylan Thomas) and his friends drove across country,” said Kalsey.
Though she had concerns about the meet, Kalsey left knowing she made the right decision to compete.
“I talked to Jenn (Suhr) for awhile. It was neat to talk to her. She is inspiring to watch,” said Kalsey. “I was watching every move they were making.
“I thought a lot about doing the meet. It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance. I have to get used to the atmosphere. The more times I do it, the more comfortable I’ll feel.”
Kalsey continued the thought, saying, “There was nothing I could do to prepare me for that situation except to be in that situation. This makes me hungry for more.”
That “more” includes competing in the U.S. Olympic Trials, if not in 2020, at least in 2024.