Johnston, Hickey Play Leap Frog . . . at 15 Feet : Mount Carmel, Fallbrook Pole Vaulters Will Wage Friendly Battle at Section Meet

Mount Carmel High School’s Scott Johnston and Fallbrook’s Sean Hickey have developed one of the county’s better rivalries.

They are the county leaders in the pole vault (15-feet 1-inch) and they are expecting to continue that rivalry in the San Diego Section final Thursday at San Diego State University.

“We’re pretty close,” Johnston said. “I think we each have a 50-50 chance of winning.”

Johnston was the county leader at the start of the season when he was the first to clear 14-6. He was joined by Mount Carmel teammates Steve Whitton and Eric Bean. It was the first time a school in San Diego had three vaulters clear 14-6.

“All the press coverage they got,” Hickey said, “really got me going.”

Hickey responded by taking the county lead at 14-6 1/2. Not only had Hickey quieted the talk of a possible 1-2-3 sweep by the Mount Carmel vaulters in the Section finals, but there was talk Hickey could win the whole thing.

Then, it was Johnston’s turn. Johnston left his teammates at 14-6 and jumped 14-9 to regain the lead. Two weeks ago, Hickey cleared 15-0 and he was on top again.

“Sean’s a good vaulter,” Johnston said. “I was hoping we’d get 15-0 the same day.”

As it worked out, they reached the next plateau together when the two vaulted head-to-head on May 10 at the Palomar League finals. The matchup was one of the best vaulting performances ever in San Diego County.

Each cleared 14-6 then equaled the county best of 15-0. However, Hickey had a clear advantage when the bar was raised to 15-1.

“I thought I was going to get beat,” Johnston said. “I had missed twice at 14-6 and twice at 15-0.”

Said Hickey: “It was a heated competition. I had made all the heights on the first attempt. Scott knew he had to make 15-1 to win.”

If neither would have cleared 15-1, Hickey would’ve won the league title because of fewer misses at the lower heights. But each made 15-1. Johnston made the height on his second attempt and Hickey on his third. For that, Johnston was crowned league champion.

“I had about 16 vaults that day,” Johnston said. “We were so tired. That competition pushes you so much.”

Each has set specific goals for the season. And each said they would rather finish second to the other if it meant obtaining those goals.

“At the beginning of the season I wanted to go 16-0,” Johnston said. “But now, I think 15-6 is more realistic. Actually, first and second place might go 15-6.”

“The height is more important than winning,” Hickey added. “I’d like to go 15-3 to break the county record (15-2 1/2 by Jeff Mulligan of San Dieguito in 1984). I think I can make 15-6. I’ve made 15-4 in practice.”

The competition, while intense, hasn’t interfered with their friendship. Hickey said they often help each other during an event and that he would continued to offer assistance Thurday. “We help each other out because we want to go higher and higher,” Hickey said. “Even in the CIF finals. I wouldn’t give him my pole or anything, but I’ll always help him out. It keeps our friendship strong.”

Johnston knows the importance of being surrounded by good vaulters, having jumped with his teammates and while chasing Mulligan during 1984. Hickey knows he is fortunate to be surrounded by a strong vaulting community in the North County, which also includes Curt Brown of San Pasqual, a 14-6 vaulter.

Hickey began his prep pole vaulting career in 29 Palms, Calif., and moved to Fallbrook during his junior year. He cleared 10-6 as a freshman and 12-0 during his sophomore season in which he ruptured his kidney landing on the plant box.

Hickey struggled to overcome his injury during most of his junior season, but responded to the competition by jumping 13-6 in the league final to finish second behind Johnston. Hickey finished third in the Section CIF final.

“(The good competition) challenges you to go higher,” Hickey said. “If I were in 29 Palms, I’d probably be jumping 14-0 right now. The highest there is 12-0.”