March 16, 2007
Ask senior pole vaulter Katie Fowke what she wants to achieve in her final season with the UCF women's track and field team and she rattles off three clearly defined goals. "I want to qualify for [NCAA] Regionals again," she explained prior to practice during spring break week. "I'd love to finish in the top three at the conference meet and I'd love to clear 13-feet. If I can achieve any one of those goals, I'll be happy."
Her list of accomplishments during the last three seasons certainly makes those goals seem reachable. Since arriving at UCF in 2004, the three-time NCAA Regional qualifier and two-time all-conference honoree has broken the school record in the event no fewer than five times. The first was a mark of 11-feet, 2.25 inches at the Disney Relays during her freshman year. The most recent came at the 2006 Bulldog Limited in Athens, Ga. when she vaulted a personal best 12-5.50. During the 2006 Conference USA Indoor Track and Field Championships, she also set the school record in the indoor event at 11-7.75.
"It is fun to be able to set a new record," said Fowke. "Now anytime I have a personal record, I know that it is also a school record."
Giving her achievements even more credibility is the fact that she only started competing in the event as a sophomore in high school. Fowke started her athletic career as a gymnast, but after eight years, elected to stop participating in the sport.
"When I quit gymnastics as a sophomore in high school, I was looking for another sport," said the graduate of Tampa's Riverview High School. "I'd never played any team sports, so I thought I would try running track. I thought running is easy enough, but the pole vault coach knew I had done gymnastics and wanted me to give the event a try."
Fowke acknowledges there are similarities between gymnastics and pole vaulting. "The body awareness and the coordination that you get from gymnastics definitely helped me," she said. "There is also an element of fear in both sports. You have to not be afraid of getting on the pole or trying a new height. You just have to start off with small steps and work up."
Fowke and her fellow pole vaulters, junior Kelsey Bealert and sophomore Brittney McDermott, use different drills as well as plyometrics, weightlifting and short sprints to maintain and improve upon their already solid foundation of speed and strength. Typically, the trio only vaults twice a week.
"If you are strong and fast, it gets you on a bigger pole and allows you to jump higher heights," said Fowke.
Although she has cleared 11-feet in every meet thus far during the outdoor season, clearing a higher height is necessary if she is going to meet her goal of making the NCAA Regional for a program record fourth time. This year's qualifying mark sits at 12-5.50. "I did clear the mark last year so I know I can do it," she said. "At South Florida, I got on the pole that I think is going to get me that height. I felt really confident getting on that pole."
The confidence certainly aided her performance. At the USF Invitational on March 3, she came into the event above 11-feet for the first time in her career and did one better. "I cleared the opening height on my first attempt and that was a huge confidence builder. In pole vault, the fewer attempts you take the more energy you will have. I want to be fresh for as long as I can. In order to do that, I have to come in at a higher mark."
Last season, Fowke met the qualifying standard at the Bulldog Invitational on April 22 with just two meets remaining on the schedule. Unfortunately, she was unable to compete at the NCAA East Regional due to a late season injury.
"It was tough because I had just cleared a personal best. I had never felt better about the way I was jumping. To have to miss it was just...." Fowke shakes her head, remembering the frustration. "It was just really tough."
Even with her mind set upon staying healthy and achieving her athletic goals, Fowke also remains focused on her studies. Because as much as she has excelled on the field of competition, she has also stands out in the classroom, earning U.S. Track and Field Coaches' Association All-Academic Team honors in 2005 and 2006. After earning her bachelor's of science in psychology, she wants to attend school to become a physical therapist.
For Fowke, there seems to be no height that is unattainable.