Jack Whitt is a nice guy
Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 1:51 am
http://www.normantranscript.com/sports/ ... 20040.html
Whitt wanted to go higher
By Michael Kinney
The Norman Transcript
Jack Whitt knows his way around a pole vault pit. Despite being only 17, the Norman North senior is ranked No. 1 in the nation and No. 2 in the world in the 19-under division.
While many athletes of his stature can be selfish with their knowledge, Whitt has been known to help out teammates and opponents alike in the fine art of the pole vaulting.
Friday, during the Class 5A/6A regional track and field meet at Norman High, Whitt at times seemed more like a coach than a competitor. While waiting for the Class 6A competition to begin, Whitt gave pointers to the 5A contestants.
“I definitely try to help people I know who don’t have a coach,” Whitt said. “And I get a lot of people that ask me questions and I love to help them. I definitely help people that need it, because I know it can come back around and help me.”
Whitt’s coaching job did not affect his own performance. For the third consecutive year, Whitt took home a regional pole vault title. He hit 17-feet on his first vault, which was five-feet more than Edmond’s Brandon Samples, who took second place.
Whitt used the rest of his attempts to try and break his own state record of 17-feet, 10-inches. He pushed the bar to 18-feet and a half inch. Unfortunately, he failed on all three attempts to hit the mark. But he plans to try again next week at the state meet at Moore.
“I did good, but I could have done better,” Whitt said. “I felt I was ready to jump it. But it didn’t work out. I am going to go out and try to win the meet first, then jump high. That’s the biggest meet of my year besides my summer stuff and the Texas Relays.”
Whitt wanted to go higher
By Michael Kinney
The Norman Transcript
Jack Whitt knows his way around a pole vault pit. Despite being only 17, the Norman North senior is ranked No. 1 in the nation and No. 2 in the world in the 19-under division.
While many athletes of his stature can be selfish with their knowledge, Whitt has been known to help out teammates and opponents alike in the fine art of the pole vaulting.
Friday, during the Class 5A/6A regional track and field meet at Norman High, Whitt at times seemed more like a coach than a competitor. While waiting for the Class 6A competition to begin, Whitt gave pointers to the 5A contestants.
“I definitely try to help people I know who don’t have a coach,” Whitt said. “And I get a lot of people that ask me questions and I love to help them. I definitely help people that need it, because I know it can come back around and help me.”
Whitt’s coaching job did not affect his own performance. For the third consecutive year, Whitt took home a regional pole vault title. He hit 17-feet on his first vault, which was five-feet more than Edmond’s Brandon Samples, who took second place.
Whitt used the rest of his attempts to try and break his own state record of 17-feet, 10-inches. He pushed the bar to 18-feet and a half inch. Unfortunately, he failed on all three attempts to hit the mark. But he plans to try again next week at the state meet at Moore.
“I did good, but I could have done better,” Whitt said. “I felt I was ready to jump it. But it didn’t work out. I am going to go out and try to win the meet first, then jump high. That’s the biggest meet of my year besides my summer stuff and the Texas Relays.”
