Parker Learns Key to Good Vaulting

Back in 1985 when Tom Parker was an aspiring distance runner, he had no idea what the pole vault was. Two years later, the Notre Dame High junior is one of the best high school vaulters in California.

“I was out on the track one day and I saw some guys putting up a bar and jumping over it on sticks,” he recalled recently. “I said to myself, ‘What the hell is that?’

“But it looked like fun so I tried it.”

Since then, Parker has improved steadily in the event, jumping 10-6 as a freshman, 13-6 as a sophomore and 14-8 last summer at an all-comers meet at Birmingham High.

Two weeks ago, he raised his personal best by three inches, clearing 16-0 at the Mt. San Antonio College Relays in Walnut.

Consistency has been Parker’s strongest asset in an event where inconsistency is the rule. World class vaulters frequently endure two or three meets a season in which they fail to clear a height.

But that hasn’t happened to Parker, who has jumped 15 feet or higher in 11 meets and has yet to have a no height.

So far Parker has kept ahead of all high school vaulters but one: state leader Brent Burns of Alcalanes High in Lafayette, who has jumped 17-4 1/2 this season. Burns won the state title in 1985 and tied for second in 1986. Parker’s only defeats have come to Burns.

Despite Burns’ victories and a personal best (17-6)--a foot and a half higher than his--Parker said Burns is beatable.

“I think I’m ready for 16-6,” Parker said. “A big goal of mine is to beat Brent Burns. He’s been vaulting a lot this year and he may have peaked. I’m hoping I can catch him at a down meet and beat him.”