Season Ends for State Pole Vaulter
Columbus, OH (June 4, 2005) Karlee Blosser's my hero. Battling back from last year's season-ending injury in the state championship she nailed second place in the Southwest District , and then a Southwest Regional title to, once again, advance to the big show in Columbus.
But talking to Blosser, just moments after she bowed out of the 2005 state tourney having missed at the 10-foot mark, she doesn't exactly see it that way.
"There's no reason I shouldn't have made that. I really wish O'Diam had been here," Blosser commented, referring to her coach who had prior committements."
Blosser's warm-up shirt with the message "This one's for you O'Diam" hand-painted across the front, gave an indication of how much respect there is for her coach.
It's a game of inches and next season both Blosser has set the bar even higher yet. "I'm going to hit 11'6" next year," she noted, with a degree of sadness knowing that this season is really over.
As a sophomore, and first time pole-vaulter, she beat the old school record of 8'0" in just three months time. This season Blosser set the school record twice, at 10' and again at 10'3".
And most likely, barring any injuries, she will. Last season's ACL tear could have been career ending, but Blosser battled back to where she is today.
"What really what happened was a fluke. It's one of those things you can't control. When she was walking off her leg got caught in the apron box and it twisted her knee," O'Diam noted last year.
And now that the crowd noise is gone, the pistols have stopped exploding in your ears, and the PA announcer is silent, Blosser will get an entire year to think about how she's going to get back to Jesse Owen Memorial Stadium.
And we know she will because through all those adversities. The nagging injury, the missing coach, the noise of the crowds, the pressure to succeed. There is still that driving quality of unwavering confidence.
Valley View was well represented on Saturday. Karlee Blosser's our hero.
