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.