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Desiree Freier re-broke her HS record in a silver medal performance at 2014 World Juniors - DyeStat

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DyeStat.com   Jul 26th 2014, 1:57am
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Determination drives Freier to silver, record

 

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor


Desiree Freier had the "worst butterflies" in her stomach prior to Thursday's pole vault final, but she found the gumption to swat them away.


Freier, already the high school record-holder in the pole vault, has not always had a smooth ride between the Texas state title and her second U.S. national team. The Texan went through a coaching change – from her step-brother to her step-father – that was stressful.


But Freier wasn't willing to give up on her goals, and one of the most influential high school girls in track and field decided to keep pushing.


"Out on the runway I told myself 'You're not tired. Fight for the gold. Take it,'" Freier said. "I didn't get the gold but I got second, which is as close as you can get."


She also raised the national high school outdoor record from 14-3.25 to 14-7.25 – a significant improvement – before heading off to the University of Arkansas. She had three narrow misses at 14-9, the winning height made by Russian Alena Lutkovskaya.


"I just had to step up to the plate and show that I'm still here. I can still do this," Freier said. "It doesn't matter what I go through. I was born to be a vaulter."


Competing against a handful of 14-foot vaulters, Freier dug deep.


"It pushed me more, in a way. That's good," Freier said.


Teammate Bonnie Draxler from Wisconsin made the final and placed 15th.


In 2014, the state records in the girls pole vault fell in 12 states.


"I think girls are stepping up and showing everyone what they're made of," Freier said. "It doesn't matter your age, where you're from, or your height, you can still go out there and be the best you can be."


Freier is a mere 5 feet tall but lives and breathes the sport. And she wants to inspire others to do the same.


Draxler, a former gymnast, is one of the 12 who broke a state record this season.


"All my (gymnastics) teammates are pole vaulters now," Draxler said. "There are lots of (college) scholarships out there and it's easier to get them in pole vault than gymnastics. That's why I switched."



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