Highlander Pole Vaulter Competes at State

Back when Marshall Wentworth was a sophomore at , the idea of competing at the CIF State Track and Field Championships was a reach—at best. Wentworth was clearing about 12-6.00 in the pole vault and was getting better, but there was no sign of the rapid improvement to come. 

“In the past year he's improved about a foot and a half,” said Piedmont High School assistant coach Chris Smith. “That's a pretty significant accomplishment in the pole vault.”

Wentworth, a junior, can pinpoint the change. It happened in the middle of his sophomore year.

It was a practice like any other, only this time he stumbled upon an error in his technique.

“Something clicked,” Wentworth said. “I had a better jump than normal. I realized I had been doing something wrong the whole time. From that point on, each jump got a little bit better.”

Smith said Wentworth's ability to examine his own performance was responsible for his progress. Wentworth, who picked up the pole vault for the first time in high school, has steadily made changes in his technique that have allowed him to reach—literally—higher heights, the coach said.

“His mind is very analytical,” Smith said. “He's able to break it down and execute. It's pretty remarkable for a young athlete to do that.”

Wentworth will have to step his game up once again over the next two days.

At last weekend's NCS Meet of Champions, the final meet before the state championships, Wentworth hit a personal best of 14-0. That is not going to cut it at state, today and tomorrow at Buchanan High School in Clovis. Wentworth expects the opening bar height to be at 14-3.00, a height he narrowly missed at the NCS Meet of Champions.

“I perform a lot better at competition,” Wentworth said. “I was really close to 14-3.00 at the Meet of Champions. If I improve my jump a little, I should have it.”

Jenny Thompson to Compete in Triple Jump

Wentworth will have company in Clovis. Jenny Thompson, who will be competing in the triple jump, will also represent the Highlanders at the state championships.

The Piedmont High senior finally qualified in her last high school track and field season. She has been on the cusp of attaining a bid to the state championships before, but was slowed down by injuries and the wear and tear of the long season.

Her coach, Bruce Giron, decided to reduce Thompson's workload earlier this season in hopes that she would be able to finish strong. The change paid big dividends as Thompson was able to get over the hump. 

“I expect Jenny to be in the finals of the event and hopefully make a placing in the triple jump,” head coach Bruce Giron said. “She's been making incredible improvements this year.”

Giron thinks that Thompson can one-up herself and set a new personal record. Currently Thompson 's personal best is 39-3.00, which she set April 23 at the Logan Top 8.

Whatever this weekend's outcome, Giron is proud of Wentworth and Thompson for making it to the culminating competition of the year. 

“To compete at the state track and field meet in California already puts you at the top level in the nation,” Giron said. “You're in at least the top 90th percentile if you make it to state.”

UPDATE: Based on results from prelims posted Friday night on the CIF website, Wentworth and Thompson did not qualify for Saturday's finals in their events in the CIF State Track and Field Championships.