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For your California Prep Track & Field Needs
2000 Buffalo National JO's Interviews Page 2
Rebekah Laman (Grand Rapids TC, Michigan) She’s like the future of the event, the Girls Pole Vault! A bundle of energy with a couple of years of activity down the runway and into the pit before her high school career even begins, Rebekah Laman of Ludington, Michigan took the Youth Girls Pole Vault at the USATF Junior Olympics with a fine personal best effort of 9-06.25. We caught up with the Michigan star just after her event and she took the time to answer a few of our questions. As to her vaulting career, the eighth grader indicated, “My father was a 13 foot pole vaulter in high school and he started to vault again recently. He and my Coach, Maurice Holbrook encouraged me as I came to watch them and other people in the event over the last couple of years. I have officially vaulted last year and this year, and will be going into the ninth grade next year at Ludington High School. My goal here was to Vault 10-00 and take first place, and I tried that height here during the competition, but was not able to make it over.” When asked about whether the Girls’ Pole Vault is a big thing in Michigan, she replied, “Yes! It Really is, and I think the state meet was won this last year at 12 feet something.” About the rest of her summer, Rebekah indicated, “I’m back home to start getting ready for Cross-Country, and I will be a ninth grader at Ludington HS .” Interesting in just a short time how accepted and competitive such a new event has become!
Michelle Carter –DeSoto Road Runners TC - Red Oak HS, Texas – Intermediate Girls Shot Put She comes across as totally relaxed in every single way except for one. She casually waits in line for her warm-ups, politely steps around people as she heads for the ring for her throw, and her travel across the ring as she utilizes the glide is at a mild pace. That is until she plants and unloads the Shot Put with as quick and as powerful a right arm as you will ever see at the early high school level, a powerful stroke that here took down the divisional record with a 47-04.5 effort! Michelle was pushed in the competition by Lindsay Neuberger who was over 47-00 also in the competition! The daughter of famed prep record holder (at 81-03.5) in the Shot Put and San Francisco 49er football star, Michael Carter, Michelle finally smiled after the competition was over and she had her record effort measured with a steel tape. The Texan is, “going to be a tenth grader at Red Oak High School in Texas. This past spring I threw 48-05.25 and was the State 4A Shot and Discus Champ.” When we indicated that we saw her father’s 81-03.5 effort and asked how long she had been throwing, she indicated, “Three years. I was really into basketball in junior high school and did not want to come out and throw the Shot at first, but I have enjoyed it since I have thrown it the last couple of years. My dad does help coach me.” When asked if her father’s demeanor is as casual as hers, she replied, “No, my dad is a little more serious than me about things. I try to stay very calm all the time.” About her prep basketball career, Michelle added, “I did okay my first year on the Varsity, we had a so-so record as a team.” As to weight lifting, Michelle stated, “I have done a little, and plan to get more serious in the future.” As to future goals, “I would just like to do my best, and while I have some record goals in mind.” Nick Devenport – Texas Express Track & Field – North Mesquite HS One of the headliners Thursday at the Junior Olympics in Buffalo was Texan Nick Devenport, who was out like a house afire in his heat of the Young Men’s 800 Meters, rocketing by the 400 at 51.5 in his heat! After that point the pressing did not ease a bit, with a 1:19 at 600 meters and strong effort into the finish, where Nick won in an unpressed 1:49.49. When we caught up with Nick after the win for an explanation as to the quick qualifying running, he stated, “I qualified for the U.S. Junior National team off my place in the Junior Nationals in Denton, Texas, but did not have the qualifying time of 1:50 flat. My coach and I took a look at the weather here, and figured we did not have many chances to go after that standard, and decided to go for it.”
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