Fixsen looks to build on big PR at USATF Junior Championships in international debut at IAAF World U-20 meet in Finland

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

The words are hard to miss. Starting at the center, meaningful Bible verses written in black marker spiral down the helmet Julia Fixsen wears when she pole vaults. At the front of the helmet in bold lettering is the verse Isaiah 40:31:

Those who hope in the Lord, will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,
They will walk and not be faint.

A requirement for high school pole vaulters in the state of Minnesota, Fixen has turned a once blank helmet into an artistic message of her faith.

“I don’t just pole vault to get the ‘W,’” Fixsen said. “I pole vault because God has given me this amazing gift and I want to show everyone that I don’t do it all for myself.”

For Fixsen, the mantra is “faith over fear,” something that’s literally carried her to new heights.

An incoming senior at Mounds View High in Arden Hills, Minn., located about 10 miles from Minneapolis, Fixsen is coming off a second-place finish at the USATF Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Bloomington, Ind., where she vaulted a personal-best height of 13 feet, 11.25 inches (4.25m) to qualify for the IAAF World U20 Championships in Tampere, Finland.

Fixsen, who will compete in the July 10 qualifying competition in pursuit of advancing to the July 12 final, equaled the No. 13 all-time outdoor performer in U.S. high school track and field history.

Fixsen also knows she can continue to soar higher.

“I really value my faith,” she said. “I think when I vault, that fearlessness definitely comes from trusting in the Lord, 100 percent.”

Fixsen’s resume includes a rather rough and tumble past – a gymnast at the age of 9, she became hooked on the idea of making the Olympics after watching the 2008 Summer Games and gymnast Shawn Johnson winning gold. But a smattering of injuries and concussions forced her to stop competing when she was 14 and find a new dream.

“I was totally devastated, but a lot of my friends, and especially my parents were mentioning track and field,” she said.

With the encouragement of her neighbor friend, Hannah Van Beusekom, Fixsen went out for the track team as an eighth grader and found the pole vault – an event that brought a sense of familiarity to her in the drills and technique she was used to with gymnastics.

“She was very tall, even as an eighth grader,” Mounds View pole vault coach Matt Fleigle said. “When I first saw her, I got really excited.”

As an eighth grader Fixsen broke the school record, vaulting 11-7. She followed that up with a phenomenal freshman campaign, clearing 13 feet at the state meet and 13-3 at the Brit’s Pub Vault Competition in Minnesota in early September.

After a plateaued sophomore season, due to a stress reaction in her foot, it was a focused Fixsen that emerged, working on sprint work, weightlifting and training heading into her junior year with the end goal of qualifying for the World U-20 meet in 2018.

“We really honed in this offseason, fine tuned,” Fleigle said. “When she goes into something, she goes all in.”

This spring saw the most steady and consistent progress from Fixsen as as she won the state title in a record vault of 13-9.25 (4.20m). Fleigle explained for Fixsen, it’s the mental aspect that makes her an elite pole vaulter.

“She’s really good at eliminating distractions,” Fleigle said. “She really blocks all things out and she’s absolutely ready to go.”

For Fixsen, being prepared mentally means a positive mindset.

“Pretty much every single meet that I compete at there’s at least one girl that comes up to me and says, ‘You are so positive and so joyful, how do you do that?’ And they thank me for that,” Fixsen said. “I think it influences other people.”

Fleigle said this year Fixsen’s positive demeanor and faith have been more apparent. Displayed on her travel pole vault bags is the verse Isaiah 40:31. It’s also become a staple for her on social media, as she adopted the hashtag #Jumping4Jesus when she posts about the sport.

“I want people to know where my heart is,” she said of her reasoning.

Heading into Finland, Fixsen is excited for the opportunity ahead of her and to hopefully keep progressing.

She’ll be joined by Virginia Tech freshman Rachel Baxter, a three-time USATF Junior champion who has made American rosters in four consecutive summers, including capturing a gold medal at the Pan American U-20 Championships last year in Trujillo, Peru.

“It's amazing to represent my country, my school and my state; I’m so honored,” Fixsen said. “I would love to get over 14 feet and make to the finals.”

While Fixsen won’t be wearing her helmet in Finland, she said she’ll be ready to go in pursuit of reaching new heights.

“For me, getting mentally prepared, going through the motions in my head and trusting in the Lord, that gets me through every single day,” Fixsen said.