The Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — As the only Sailors athlete to qualify for the Class 4A state track meet, sophomore pole vaulter Jaime Winter might be feeling a little pressure.

Winter is the first Steamboat Springs High School athlete to qualify in pole vaulting in almost 30 years and faces the daunting prospect of competing with the state’s best, today and Saturday at Jefferson County Stadium in Lakewood.

But Winter — who has only competed in two pole-vaulting events in her career, both of which were this season — said the state meet will be less stressful than the regional meet.

A lot less stressful, in fact.

“I was so nervous at regionals,” Winter said. “I’m just trying to look at this meet as something to build on. It should be a fun time.”

Winter is scheduled to jump at 1 p.m. today.

At the regional meet in Battle Mountain, Winter placed third in a jump-off. She qualified for state with a jump of 7 feet, 6 inches.

She said her goal for the state meet will be to clear the opening height of 8 feet.

“We want to see her clear the opening height, and anything beyond that is icing on the cake,” pole-vaulting coach Quint Friesell said. “We’re trying not to put too much pressure on her.”

Winter has come close to clearing the eight-foot mark in practice.

That should bode well for Winter, who finished fifth in her first meet and third at regionals.

Winter said her background in gymnastics makes pole vaulting a natural fit.

“It helps a lot,” she said. “It makes a huge difference because I know my body awareness. It’s a lot of the same concepts as the vault. It’s the same steps.”

Friesell said he’s treating the meet as an expanding practice, looking to grow on Winter’s next two years.

“It will set her up well for the future,” Friesell said. “She’ll see the competition she’s up against. It just depends how hard she wants it. She definitely has the drive and determination. She’ll get a good experience with it.”