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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (May 6, 2009)
6 Clackamas Print Spot Wednesday, May 6, 2009 Venezuelan star flies at Clackamas very difficult be an athlete and student at the same time. You have to be a student or an athlete. You cannot be The Clackamas Print both.” McHone explained, “They don’t do sports through the Venezuelan pole-vaulter Keisa Monterola came to colleges like we do in the U.S.” He said all sports are Clackamas Community College this term to clear two done privately with what they call “clubs”. bars: surpassing her record jump of 14 feet 1 inch, and Sure enough, athletics and academics did not mix for passing the English proficiency test for admission to the Monterola. University of Washington. She said she could never finish a complete term or Monterola, 21, who is a member of her country’s course in English because of travel for competition. national team, wanted to train in the U.S. because When asked to guess how many times she started an oflhe lack of competition and coaching available in English course, she laughed and said, “Many times.” Venezuela. It was coach Licari who recommended Monterola Able to regularly vault 13 feet, while other Venezuelan come to Oregon. Here she could study English and train women are only clearing heights of around 11 feet 10 with CCC vaulting coach Rick Baggett, who had been inches, the competition at home isn’t even close. Licari’s high school and junior col Limited coaching had also been holding Monterola lege coach. back. Monterola got She set her personal record height of 14-1 1/4 back * Clackamas for the start in 2005. Clackamas head track coach Keoni McHone of spring term. More said she hasn’t had regular coaching or training facili than a month into the ties since then. He said the only coaching she receives track season, McHone is what the national team provides for a couple weeks said visa difficulties before each event. were responsible for Monterola said, “I didn’t have a coach last year. 1 was her late arrival. He training by myself, so it was complicated to make the added that the origi mark to qualify to the (Olympic) competition.” nal intent was for After working for three years to make the necessary her to start here in contacts to come to the U.S. to train, Monterola visited January. the University of Washington in early 2008. There for Asked about three months, Monterola said, “I wasn’t a student yet, Monterola’s return to her I just was studying English and getting some practice best vault height, Baggett knowing the team and that’s it.” said, “She’s got to devel Washington vault coach Pat Licari offered Monterola op a little more speed a full scholarship. However, she was unable to pass the and a little more core TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) require strength. ment for admission, and she had to return home. Studying English in Venezuela wasn’t easy. Monterola said, Venezuela, Greg Stoltz He said those two things will put her above her recot 14-1, likely in the range of 14-5 to 14-9. Baggett said, “She’s probably one of the best tec cians I’ve ever seen. And, I’ve seen everyone.” McHone said Monterola has really benefited from college experience and being on a college track and team. He said, “She has come in here with what a people would consider a lot of pressure. But, she is ing just as much fun as any other athlete on the tean Struck with occasional homesickness, Monterola the time she spent in Seattle makes being here easiet “Last year it was very hard,” said Monterola. “fy ed to go back to my home. I’d say I don’t want tost here. I study in Venezuela. But, then I say I have! years waiting to come here and study at the univeri . had to keep trying.” Her English has gotten a lot better, Baggett. Even though she has only here a few weeks, he said she is alit able to give him more feedback di training. Monterola said she thinks this be her only year at Clackamas. W asked if she would be ready to her English test at the end of the j she said, “Yeah, I think so. And, so excited to do it.” After that, said she will head to Universit Washington. She is hoping to go to the 2 Olympics in London. “Yeah, excited because I’m working Rick,” said Monterola. “I feel I’m going to be really fast, and I’m going to be with Pat who’s aj coach. And, I know I’m going tt what I need to, (to) be at Olympic Michelle Newby Clackn Las Vegas native thrives on Clackamas track team Kayla Calloway Sports Editor . Clackamas is home to students from all over the Northwest. It’s common to see someone who commutes from Molalla or sometimes from North Portland. However, it’s not every day that one hears of a student from Las Vegas. Josh Lair chose to leave his family and home town of Las Vegas, Nev. to attend Clackamas this year, and although he misses his family, a lo^, he’s z Robert Crawford Clackamas Print Josh Lair sets up to vault at a practice. happy with the change. ' “There was-really no track school in Vegas,” said Lair. “And I really wanted to experience life on my own.” Still, Nevada to Oregon seems like a pretty big leap especially for someone as young as Lair, an 18-year-old freshman. It seems only obvious for there to be gome motivating factor that made the journey worth-while. Running track was that factor. “My senior year was my first/’ said Lair when asked how long he had been involved with tra and field. Such a short amount of time, but it was alii needed. Coming from Vegas to Clackamas mea adjusting to the climate here, which for some« be challenging. “I love it (here). I love the green,” said Li “It’s easier to breathe.” A universal desire when making a journey, matter the distance, whether just a quick dri into town for a burger or a trip cross-country, the desire to feel as though it was worth it. D that burger hit the right spot? In Lair’s case, the track season what he anticipated? “It’s alright,” he said. “(The season) could! better.” Lair is looking forward to the rest of the se son and possibly next year. “I might be back next year, or join the co^ guard. One or the other,” said Lair.
