After another tough time at the national championship meet this spring, Nebraska pole vaulter Natalie Willer was in need of a little redemption.
Winning a U.S. Junior Championship should help ease the pain.
NU’s star sophomore beat out touted vaulter Shade Weygandt to take the title at the USA Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ore., on June 26.
“I just went out there, and it was absolute perfect conditions – nice weather, great tailwind, great crowd,” Willer said. “I didn’t have my best jumping that I’ve ever had, but I ended up putting enough good jumps together to come out with the win.”
Willer topped Weygandt, who was competing for Club Altius, after it took her fewer misses to clear 13 feet, 11¼ inches. The vault broke the meet record of 13 feet, 10 inches set last year by LSU’s Rachel Laurent.
She’ll have plenty more chances to go head-to-head with Weygandt. The Mansfield, Texas native was the best high school pole vaulter in the nation this year and signed with Big 12 Conference foe Texas Tech.
“It’s kind of exciting,” Willer said. “We haven’t really had much of a chance for a rivalry just because we haven’t jumped against each other.”
When the rivalry does start this winter, it will be a friendly one. NU recruited Weygandt heavily, and when she made her official visit to Lincoln, Willer was her host.
“She came on a visit, but apparently it just wasn’t the right fit for her, and she’s staying closer to home,” Willer said. “I had known her for a couple years before she came on her visit just from being in the pole vault world, and we stay in contact.”
Despite having a breakout season highlighted by Big 12 pole vaulting titles in both the indoor and outdoor seasons, Willer struggled at both NCAA Championship meets this season.
At the outdoor championships, Willer didn’t get out of the preliminary round after failing to clear 12 feet, 3 ½ inches. She finished 14th at the indoor meet.
Willer said the outdoor championship meet was “heartbreaking” and “a big disappointment,” but it also served as a learning experience.
“I really realized that I need to be more consistent and comfortable in my jumping ability,” she said. “All year, I was fairly consistent, but I always had those little dips and ups and downs, and you certainly don’t want to do it at those meets.
“I think it’s opened my eyes for next year. Mentally, I’ll need to get over it, and I think I can do it. … I would definitely say I’ve grown up a little.”
NU coach Gary Pepin said he was impressed by Willer’s performance at the junior championships and is excited for her future.
“She’s still just a youngster,” he said. “She’s certainly got plenty of time and lots of meets ahead of her. She’s a very intelligent girl and a very hard worker; she’s really dedicated, and I think she has a very bright future.”
Willer is starting to feel the physical effects of a seemingly endless season, but she can’t quit yet.
She’ll team up with Weygandt represent Team USA in the Pan American Junior Championships at the end of the month. The three-day meet starts July 31 in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
“I’m incredibly excited. I’ve never been out of the country for anything, let alone a track meet,” said Willer, an Elkhorn, Neb. native. “I think it’ll be a good meet, and we’ll be teammates for at least a little bit, so that should be fun.”
Following her junior title, Willer entered the senior division pole vault event two days later.
Although she was knocked out in the preliminaries after failing to clear 13 feet, 9 ¼ inches on three attempts, she said just entering the contest was a good experience.
“I didn’t have my best jumping day because I took a lot of jumps on Friday for the juniors – I think I took 18 jumps in competition,” Willer said. “But just to be down on the field with those girls who are jumping 4.50 and 4.60 (meters) – that’s where I want to be, so it was a lot of fun.”
Willer will do some light training during July in preparation for the meet. When she gets back from Trinidad, she’ll likely take a week off before jumping right back into a rigorous training routine.
There’s no off-season or summer break for Willer, but that’s fine by her.
“It has definitely extended my season a little bit, but it’s an experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything,” she said. “When you get an opportunity for something like this, you don’t want to pass it up.”
maxolson@dailynebraskan.com
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