Jackson misses opening-height vaults at state meet

By Joe Naiman

Ramona High School senior Courtney Jackson concluded her high school track and field career at the CIF state meet preliminaries June 6 at Buchanan High School in Clovis, but she failed to clear the opening girls pole vault height of 11 feet, 3 inches.

“She only really cleared that once this year,” said head coach Sherri Edwards.

Jackson’s distance of 11-7 at the CIF San Diego Section finals May 31 placed second overall and first among Division II girls. She had not cleared higher than 11-1 in a meet this year prior to the section finals. As one of the top three finishers in the pole vault, Jackson qualified for the state meet.

“She had a really good first attempt,” Edwards said of Jackson’s state meet activity.

Jackson’s pole hit the pit on her second attempt, giving her one final chance to clear the opening height.

“Her third attempt was pretty good but didn’t clear it,” said Edwards. “She almost made it, but not quite.”

Jackson qualified for the state meet in the pole vault last year, but failed to clear the opening height. She was the Valley League pole vault champion as a junior and as a senior.

“She was disappointed,” Edwards said of Jackson failing to advance at the state meet, “but she’s had a really good career.”

Jackson is expected to vault on the San Diego State University track and field team in 2015.