Schmidt Has State Title, Record Within Sight

Lake Forest High School pole vaulter Carly Schmidt knows she can make track and field history at the State Meet Friday and Saturday at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston and she is ready.

Schmidt placed fourth a year ago as a junior clearing 12-0—teammate Carolina Carmichael won the gold medal with a leap of 12-6—and was disappointed with her performance. She has spent the last year trying to make amends.

Earlier: Two Lake Forest Vaulters in Hunt for State Gold

“It was not a good meet,” Schmidt said of 2012. “I’ve gained in confidence. I’m a little bit more prepared and a little less nervous. I’m not going to mess up on the little things I know how to do.”

Winning the Sectional Title last week with a performance of 13-0, Schmidt has done a foot better than she did last year and has her final vault was 18 inches higher than the second best qualifier. The state record set in 2004 is 13-3.

With two other individual Scouts and a relay team joining her, Schmidt will have company in Charleston. Elle Chody will compete in the 3,200 meter run and Helen Schlaohtenhaufen will run the 1,600 meters.

The 4x800 relay team of Lisa Bennatan, Caroline Marwede, Callie Schmidt and Elise Wong will be there as well. Kelsey Schmidt and Gabrielle Simeck are alternates for the relay.

While Coach Nate Sweet believes Chody and Schlaohtenhaufen are in the medal hunt, the expectations for Schmidt are much higher. “I expect her to win the state title,” Sweet said of the Auburn University bound athlete. “The state record is a bonus.”

That bonus is something clearly on Schmidt’s mind. After easily qualifying for the State Meet at last week’s Sectional, she kept asking officials to raise the bar and they accommodated her. After clearing 13-0, she had the bar set at 13-3.

“I felt I had it but I was only close,” Schmidt said. “I felt it (the bar). I (hope) the best will come,” she added referring to a record clearly in her sites. What will she do if she ties the record at 13-3? She will have the officials move the bar an inch higher.

Schmidt is no stranger to competition at the statewide level. This will be her fourth year competing in track and field and she was part of the gymnastics team that went to the State Finals the last two years. Excellence is in her blood.

“If I couldn’t do it that well I wouldn’t do that sport,” Schmidt said referring to her sixth trip to a state meet. “My competitive drive makes me want to be the best.”

Only two Lake Forest High School athletes have gone to more state meets than Schmidt, according to school records. Victoria Jackson competed four times in cross country and three in track while Jillian Schwartz took part four times in track and three in gymnastics. Schwartz was eventually a two-time Olympian in the pole vault.

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