|
Track & Field: Finishing strongTim Buckley, Daily Advertiser, May 13, 2012 After back-to-back Sun Belt Conference championships in 2009 and 2010, then being declared academically ineligible last season, UL Ragin’ Cajun pole vaulter Chris Roy could have rested on his laurels. Not bothered to come back. Said the heck with it. But Roy had plenty of reasons to return, and one of them — the chance to win a third outdoor conference title — comes today, when his specialty event is held on final day of three-day Sun Belt meet at UL. "It did motivate me to come back and finish my senior year," said Roy, a Breaux High product who comes from a family of high school pole vaulters — father and grandfather included. "But that’s not what drove me (most). "I mean, yeah I do want to graduate and all that. But I’ve always had a drive for track. I’ve always wanted to be successful at it," he added. "So coming back and finishing off my senior season, my college career, and it also being an Olympic year, just gave me that much more drive to come back and compete again." Roy also won two Sun Belt indoor championships before his hiatus, and he managed a three-peat of sorts by taking another this season. Having the chance to now win a third Sun Belt outdoor title is lagniappe. "I really wanted to come back and finish off, kind of, a sweep of the Sun Belt championships — give an attempt to win it (again)," said Roy, who also was the conference outdoor runner-up as a freshman and a second-team All-American after finishing fifth at this season’s indoor meet. "I hope to do it outdoors. That would add up to six total, which would be a great accomplishment." Roy said what he wants most, though, is to qualify for U.S. Olympic Team Trials in June. "That is definitely the ultimate goal," he said. "That has been the goal since I started." Roy’s season-best of 17 feet, 8.5 inches at the Texas Relays in late March, best in the Sun Belt by 7.5 inches over teammate Michael Vani, left him just a couple inches shy of the UL school outdoor record of 17-10.25 he set during the 2010 Sun Belt championships. It’s tied for 30th-best among collegians and pros this season, tied for 15th-best among American collegians and not too far off the Olympic "B" standard of just over 18 feet. Posting a B-standard clearance would greatly aid Roy’s efforts to get to the Olympic Trials, where two from a field of 24 will qualify for this year’s Summer Games in London. "I need about six inches or so to get (to Trials)," he said. "It’s possible. It’s what we’re working toward. "Six inches, when you get up to those heights, is a lot. I’ve had some jumps where I have the height on it — it’s just that certain things happen, to where I don’t finish. But I think I have to ability to get it. We’ll see. "» If we get some good conditions, I believe I can do it." Roy presumably has three college meets left in which he’ll got a shot — Sun Belt today, East Regional in late May, and, if he qualifies as expected, NCAA Outdoors in early June. "Hopefully within one of those I can get it," he added. "I’d love, especially this weekend, in my last home meet ever, at the Sun Belt Conference championship, to get the mark — because it would also be the Sun Belt outdoor record, and it would be a great feeling to do it at home with all the fans and my family around." Weather conditions on Sunday really will play a critical role. "He almost had (18-plus) at Texas Relays," said Cajuns coach Lon Badeaux, a former UL pole vaulter himself who returned to his alma mater this season after having coached 12 years at Arkansas State. "In pole vault, you really get affected by what the wind is. So a lot of your pole vaulters are meteorologists also, because they know exactly where the wind’s blowing every day." Being able to work this season for a head coach whose specialty was the same as his served as yet another motivator for Roy to return this season "He knew he’d have some good, quality coaching," Badeaux said. "We work well together." Roy has received plenty of 1-on-1 attention from Badeaux, who has had to toe the line between passing on his expertise while also being sure not to drive the Sun Belt’s top vaulter too batty. "All the pole vaulters are a little bit crazy," Badeaux said, "so I think we all understand each other a little bit." They all get what keeps them going, and know what it takes, too. "He’s got the ability to do it, the speed to do it, the strength to (go over 18)," Badeaux said. "It’s just a matter of being ‘on’ technically, and being ‘on’ on the right day." Day 1 Team Scores
WOMEN1. Arkansas State — 20 pts 2. Western Kentucky — 20 pts 3. North Texas — 15 pts 3. South Alabama — 15 pts 5. Troy — 10 pts 6. Florida Atlantic — 8 pts 7. FIU — 7 pts 7. UALR — 7 pts 9. UL Monroe — 6 pts 9. Middle Tennessee — 6 pts 11. Louisiana 3 pts
MEN1. Western Kentucky — 14 pts 1. UALR — 14 pts 3. South Alabama — 11 pts 4. Troy — 10 pts 4. Arkansas State — 10 pts 6. Middle Tennessee — 9 pts 7. Louisiana-Monroe — 6 pts 8. FIU — 4 pts
|