Stephen Toler back (Abilene Christian)
Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 10:44 am
http://reporternews.com/news/2008/may/0 ... hievement/
Crowning achievement
Wildcats sweep LSC titles as Cisco grad caps recovery with impressive vault victory
By Troy Shockley (Contact)
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Stephen Toler may well be the Lone Star Conference's comeback story of the year.
The redshirt freshman had a career day Sunday at the LSC Track and Field Championships, taking the men's pole vault title with a height of 17 feet, 1 inch. His 10 points helped the Abilene Christian University men to their 14th straight conference title in dominating fashion. The men finished with an impressive 290 points with second-place Tarleton scoring 125. The ACU women, too, took the conference crown -- their third straight and 23rd out of a possible 25 overall -- picking up 36 more points than second-place Angelo State.
While the women's race was relatively close, the two titles were never really in doubt as Sunday wore on. Toler's performance, however, was a pleasant surprise.
A 2005 graduate of Cisco High School, Toler twice won the district title and came to ACU with plenty of promise. His first collegiate season was ended prematurely, however, at the indoor national meet. That was when, on an approach, his right Achilles' tendon snapped.
The tear happened about six inches above his heel and the tendon recoiled, like a spring, into his calf. That was a year and one-half ago.
After surgery and a year of rehab, Toler was back on the track, but he still wasn't feeling good. Nothing was natural. Until Sunday.
"I didn't compete at the last two meets because it just hurt too much," Toler said. "Today was the first day I was able to run well since it happened. It felt normal again -- which is amazing. I can run relaxed now and not be galloping down the runway. I can be smooth again."
He was certainly smooth on this day, leaving another Big Country pole vaulter, Comanche product Chayden Feist, now a junior at Tarleton State, after 16-5 1/4. After hitting at 17-1, the standards were raised to 17-7. Toler wasn't able to clear the height but, considering his previous personal record was 16-2, he wasn't at all disappointed in his performance.
"It was a long road through rehab," he said. "The rehab was bad. I didn't like it. But this, today, feels great. It's exciting for a change. This kills all those frustrations I had before. And I can improve. It's just gonna keep getting better."
Crowning achievement
Wildcats sweep LSC titles as Cisco grad caps recovery with impressive vault victory
By Troy Shockley (Contact)
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Stephen Toler may well be the Lone Star Conference's comeback story of the year.
The redshirt freshman had a career day Sunday at the LSC Track and Field Championships, taking the men's pole vault title with a height of 17 feet, 1 inch. His 10 points helped the Abilene Christian University men to their 14th straight conference title in dominating fashion. The men finished with an impressive 290 points with second-place Tarleton scoring 125. The ACU women, too, took the conference crown -- their third straight and 23rd out of a possible 25 overall -- picking up 36 more points than second-place Angelo State.
While the women's race was relatively close, the two titles were never really in doubt as Sunday wore on. Toler's performance, however, was a pleasant surprise.
A 2005 graduate of Cisco High School, Toler twice won the district title and came to ACU with plenty of promise. His first collegiate season was ended prematurely, however, at the indoor national meet. That was when, on an approach, his right Achilles' tendon snapped.
The tear happened about six inches above his heel and the tendon recoiled, like a spring, into his calf. That was a year and one-half ago.
After surgery and a year of rehab, Toler was back on the track, but he still wasn't feeling good. Nothing was natural. Until Sunday.
"I didn't compete at the last two meets because it just hurt too much," Toler said. "Today was the first day I was able to run well since it happened. It felt normal again -- which is amazing. I can run relaxed now and not be galloping down the runway. I can be smooth again."
He was certainly smooth on this day, leaving another Big Country pole vaulter, Comanche product Chayden Feist, now a junior at Tarleton State, after 16-5 1/4. After hitting at 17-1, the standards were raised to 17-7. Toler wasn't able to clear the height but, considering his previous personal record was 16-2, he wasn't at all disappointed in his performance.
"It was a long road through rehab," he said. "The rehab was bad. I didn't like it. But this, today, feels great. It's exciting for a change. This kills all those frustrations I had before. And I can improve. It's just gonna keep getting better."