Lone pole-vaulter prepares for NCAA Championship

Friday, March 13, 2009

He could describe the situation with only one word: embarrassing. That’s the word junior pole-vaulter Jordan Scott used as he returns back to College Station, Texas, for the NCAA Indoor National Championship; this time as a solo act.

“I don’t like it all being the only athlete from a Division I school like Kansas to make a national meet.” Scott said. “I’m sure everyone did their best this year, it’s just I wish we could send more athletes.

Today at 4:30 p.m., Scott, the only Jayhawk to automatically qualify for an event, will compete against thirteen other top pole-vaulters in the country, which he believes will be one of the best meets of the indoor season.

“Everyone is jumping their best this time of the year.” Scott said. “There are about 10 guys who have a great chance of winning it.”

He comes into the meet tied for second in the country in pole vault behind junior Jason Colewick of Rice University. Scott jumped a career best of 5.55 meters (18 feet 2.5 inches) and winning his third straight Big 12 Conference title in College Station, Texas, in late February.

“I’m happy with my performance so far this year.” Scott said. “Hopefully I come out with the win.”

Scott said he was focusing on the competition. He said it was hard focusing on the task at hand with what’s going on around him.

“Being the only athlete from Kansas, I feel like there’s a lot of pressure on me and I’m trying not to think of it like that.” Scott said. “We’ll go there and hopefully work on the things I need to work on during the vault and not worry about the competition.”

It’s Scott second time competing in the Indoor Nationals. Last year Scott placed ninth, jumping 5.30 meters (17 feet 4.5 inches.).

Scott said he was not satisfied with his performance last year. He said this time around he’s not going to let his nerves get the best of him.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself and I just choked.” Scott said of last year’s performance. “This year I’ll try not to allow that to happen.”

Although Scott is ready to face some of nation’s best in track and field, he said he would have liked it to have some of his fellow Jayhawks competing beside him.

“It would have given more confidence in KU as a school. Being with people that are successful makes you more confident.” Scott said. “If they were here, I’m sure they do well too.”

— —Edited by Chris Hickerson

Scott vaults over the competition

After two Big 12 championships, Jordan Scott is going for a third, ...

/news/2009/feb/26/vault/

Vaulter looks forward to renewing rivalry

Senior pole vaulter Jordan Scott will compete with the nation’s elite in ...

/news/2010/feb/05/vaulter-looks/

Pole vaulter wins third in championships

Jordan Scott represented Kansas at the NCAA Indoor National Championships.

/news/2009/mar/23/vaulter_championships/

Kansas Relays: Jordan takes aim for future ...

Kansas' senior pole vaulter Jordan Scott's confidence builds at Kansas Relays.

/news/2011/apr/22/kansas-relays-jordan-takes-aim-future-olympic-leve/

Eight KU athletes compete track and field ...

The championships will be in Fayetteville, Ark.

/news/2008/mar/14/track/

Hawks fly high in Nebraska

The Jayhawks excelled in pole vaulting and weight throwing, winning almost half ...

/news/2008/mar/04/hawks_fly_high_nebraska/

Jayhawks set new records for men’s weight ...

Three athletes broke records and automatically qualified for the NCAA Championships in ...

/news/2008/feb/14/track/

Jayhawks slip in place but still travel ...

Although the women fell from third to ninth, Wissel and Bonds will ...

/news/2009/mar/02/track/

Track team prepares for Missouri duel

Big 12 Athlete of the Week leads team to Columbia for Friday ...

/news/2010/jan/15/track-team/

Running to the Big Apple

Kansas took three titles last weekend at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational ...

/news/2008/feb/07/track/

Pole-vaulting in a foreign land

Pole-vaulter Kate Sultanova didn't know she was coming to the University of ...

/news/2008/may/02/sultanova/

Jayhawks to compete in Texas Relays

After a successful meet last weekend, the team looks to build on ...

/news/2011/apr/07/jayhawks-compete-texas-relays/

Track and field team impresses at home ...

A new facility record, first-place performances and personal bests for the Jayhawks

/news/2008/jan/22/track/

Track team breaks out in Arkansas tournament

The Jayhawks head home for their first home meet.

/news/2008/mar/27/track/

Pole vault coach is one of the ...

Assistant coach Tom Hays credited Jordan Scott and other athletes for earning ...

/news/2011/feb/14/pole-vault-coach-one-best/

Track opens first day at Texas Relays

The track team is also competiting at the Emporia State/State Farm Relays ...

/news/2007/apr/06/track/

Jayhawk vaults into record books

/news/2005/apr/18/sports_trackandfield_manson/

Lone Jayhawk qualifies for track nationals

Three other track and field athletes qualified provisionally, but only Jordan Scott ...

/news/2009/mar/11/lone_jayhawk/

Track heads to Big 12 Championships

The Kansas track and field team heads to Ames, Iowa focused on ...

/news/2007/feb/23/track_heads_big_12_championships/

Linnen and Czyz selected to Kansas Athletics ...

Pole vaulter Amy Linnen and pitcher Don Czyz will be inducted into ...

/news/2011/may/09/linnen-and-czyz-selected-kansas-hall-fame/

Pole vaulters hit personal bests before Kansas ...

Two pole vaulters make the switch to college poles and stand in ...

/news/2012/apr/12/pole-vaulters-hit-personal-bests-kansas-relays/

Track & field’s last chance to qualify

The Jayhawks have one more chance to join Jordan Scott at the ...

/news/2009/mar/06/track_fields_last_chance_qualify/

Track and field performs well in NYC

Despite struggles, the team placed in many events and learned from east ...

/news/2009/feb/10/track_and/

/photos/2010/feb/05/9337/

Jayhawks can’t jump the hurdle to the ...

KU track and field athletes compete for spots on the U.S. Olympic ...

/news/2008/jul/09/olympics/

Jayhawks succeed, break records in Kansas Relays

High school and college athletes, along with world-class Olympians, competed last week ...

/news/2008/apr/21/kansas_relays/

Jayhawks place in weekend relays

Only one Jayhawk won an event, but four others placed second at ...

/news/2011/apr/10/jayhawks-place-weekend-relays/

Kansas track and field set to face ...

Kansas hosts Border Showdown in track and field for the first time ...

/news/2009/jan/16/kansas_track/

Track team success despite loss to MU

The track team suffered a narrow defeat to rival, but boasted many ...

/news/2010/jan/19/Track-team-success/

Track and field teams expect to compete ...

The Kansas women's track and field team is ranked nationally, with one ...

/news/2012/feb/23/big12-championships/

Transfer pole vaulters make early impact

Three recent additions try to succeed as well as adjust to a ...

/news/2010/jan/22/pole-vaulters/

Track and field team prepares for championships

This weekend's Big 12 Championships will bring together track and field teams ...

/news/2008/feb/29/track/

Track team sets personal records, wins events ...

Jumpers, pole vaulters and sprinters all won weekend events.

/news/2012/apr/29/track-team/

Penn Relays disappointing for Jayhawks

Neither men’s nor women’s teams qualified in the 4x400 meter relays.

/news/2009/apr/27/penn_relays/

Eight Jayhawks victorious in first outdoor meet

Eight Jayhawks won event titles and three regionally qualified in first outdoor ...

/news/2008/apr/02/eight_jayhawks_victorious_first_outdoor_meet/

Jayhawks find out who goes to NCAA ...

Hayes provisionally qualified for the Indoor Nationals.

/news/2009/mar/09/track/

Team searches for NCAA qualifiers

In a last minute attempt to send athletes to the NCAA Indoor ...

/news/2007/mar/02/track/

Track and field team surpasses expectations at ...

This is the team’s second home meet in a week and hope ...

/news/2008/jan/28/track_and_field/

Track & Field prepare for championships

At Big 12 Indoor Championships, women hope to improve, coach just wants ...

/news/2009/feb/27/championship/

Kansas posts four victories at Arkansas Meet

The Jayhawks continued their success at an Arkansas meet with strong showings ...