To fly 16 feet into the air is remarkable for any high school athlete.
Kai Anderson, a junior from University City High, reached 16 feet 2 inches high in the pole vault at the Mt. Carmel Sundevil Invitational on March 23, first coming to attention in a major meet in placing second to Jaden McKee of Martin Luther High. They both achieved the same height, but McKee won on fewer misses.
Three weeks later, in a dual meet at home, the former running back — that’s another story — eclipsed 16 feet 5 inches high (later revised to 16 feet 4.75 inches), a school record. That was harder and easier, because Cathedral Catholic, the opponent, didn’t field any male vaulters to push Anderson and his teammates.
Pole vaulting requires speed and strength. Speed, to gain enough momentum running down the ramp to achieve acceleration. Strength, to lift oneself on a fiberglass pole over the bar.
But the sport requires something else that will enable a sane person to trust him- or herself to go that high, on the end of a pole, and do it while going up upside-down. Now, that’s true insanity for the normal athlete. It has to do with taking gymnastics.
Says Kai’s coach, Mike Hogan: “Speed and strength — it’s a blend every athlete needs. But with gymnastics, that’s something.”
Anderson checks out on this third aspect. He took gymnastics for nine years. He also played flag football and tackle football for five years: “This is the first (school) year I haven’t played tackle football.”
Regarding the other facets, he says, “A lot of people I’ve known have done gymnastics. Going upside-down — being comfortable from inverting” is important.
In addition, he credits core strength, and arm and leg skills.
Looking back, Hogan says of the junior, “Kai showed up two years ago. He had been a gymnast. His first day out here, I knew he was going to be excellent” because of the tri-combo of strength, speed, and a gymnastics background.
Hogan, himself, began coaching vaulting at UCHS in 2000 when his three children entered high school — one girl and two boys. They attended UC and vaulted from 2000 to 2010. One of his sons became Div. II champ in San Diego Section.
“I kept on coaching after they graduated,” he says. “It was too much fun, and being semi-retired, it was way better than sitting on the couch watching TV.”
Anderson vaulted with junior Bryton Hicks, who went 13 feet high, and freshman Miles Brogowicz (10 feet 6 inches high) on the day he set the school record. Anika Magnuson, a sophomore who competes on the girls’ side and practices with him, was helping with setting the bar at the same meet. There is a camaraderie among the vaulters that goes beyond even the bond that fellow track athletes share.
On the corner of the infield at UCHS, where the meet was held, a slew of fiberglass poles were splayed out. Kai, modestly, credited a new pole “that came two days ago and the funding” for the poles with helping him to the new record.
