Brian Hancock (Mizzou) sets high sights high

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http://www.columbiatribune.com/2008/Jan ... por003.asp

Ready for takeoff
Missouri pole vaulter Hancock sets his sights high.
By RYAN NILSSON of the Tribune’s staff
Published Thursday, January 10, 2008

Gerik Parmele photo
Missouri junior Steve Shimkus prepares to vault during practice yesterday morning at the Hearnes Center Fieldhouse. The Tigers will host the Missouri Invitational indoor track and field meet tomorrow.
Brian Hancock and his family have taken dedication to another level.

Hancock began pole vaulting in seventh grade and enjoyed the sport, so his family arranged high jump mats in his uncle’s dirt-floor barn for him to practice on.

Through the years, that has evolved into an 80-foot indoor runway and a 140-foot outdoor runway with actual pole vault mats.

During the summer, Hancock works for the street department in his hometown of Monroe City and uses the money he earns to purchase poles. He now has about 60 poles at the barn.

Every chance Hancock gets, he practices on the 80-acre farm, which is located 5 miles outside Monroe City.

"He’s completely engaged in everything he does, and he’s trying to be as good as he can in everything he does," Missouri jumps coach Dan Lefever said. "When you multiply that commitment, decision times hundreds of things, it really pays off in the end."

Hancock began his sophomore indoor season last weekend at the 18th Annual National Pole Vault Summit in Reno, Nev. He cleared 16 feet, 10¾ inches to eclipse his previous indoor personal best and finished third in the college division. Hancock will have a chance to break the school’s indoor record when the track and field program officially begins the season tomorrow at the Missouri Invitational.

Tom Jordan holds the 16-year-old school record of 17-¾.

"I’ve got my goals set a lot higher than that," Hancock said. "I’m planning on getting that along the way, but my sights are set on national championships and Olympic trials this year."

His goal is a top-10 finish at the Olympic trials. It’s not often someone of Hancock’s stature contends at that level. He is 5-foot-3 and weighs 135 pounds. According to Hancock, a typical pole vaulter is 6-0 and weighs 180 pounds.

"Through technique and coaching, I’ve been able to jump on poles that are built for people that weight 180, 185 pounds," Hancock said. "That pole puts enough energy in to me that I’m able to push off 3 or 4 feet" below the crossbar, "and that’s been able to keep me up with everybody else so far."

Hancock has passed along his knowledge to freshmen Scott Betsher and Matt Willingham. Betscher won the MSHSAA Class 4 state title as a junior in 2006, and Willingham won the title in 2007.

"He’s a real student of the pole vault, absolutely passionate about it, and is excited to share with anybody who might have some interest in it, thus the young vaulters," Coach Rick McGuire said. "And in some candor, kids pick to come to a university for a variety of reasons, but certainly some part of those reasons has to do with the teammates that they’ll have, and Brian’s a magnet for vaulters."