Stokke aiming high once more

Newport Harbor High junior pole vaulter Allison Stokke made a big splash in high school track and field circles when she was a freshman.

In her first pole vault competition that year, she broke a Newport Harbor High record. She also set the national freshman record when she won a state title with a height of 12 feet, 8 inches.

She picked up where she left off the next season, tying a national outdoor sophomore record with a personal-best vault of 13-4 in her first meet of the season ? the Eagle Invite track and field meet at Santa Margarita High.

But something happened on the way to that higher place. While practicing at Golden West College last May, Stokke ran and went up on her pole, but the pole didn’t get into the pit. She fell in the cement box and broke her right tibia ? the larger inner bone of the lower leg between the knee and ankle.

“It only hurt for a second and then it went numb,” Stokke said.

She didn’t begin practicing again until last October. Her progress has been slow but sure.

She took a big step forward when she was the only pole vaulter at the Mount SAC Relays April 15 to clear 11-7 and 12-1 in her first try. Stokke had to settle for third place when she cleared 12-7, but hit the bar off on her way down.

“I wanted to jump higher, but I was happy with how I did because I fixed some things I was working on before, like my run, the steps I was taking and some other little things,” Stokke said.

That performance could just be the beginning for Stokke, and if it is, records are again in danger as she heads into the Orange County track and field championships at Trabuco Hills High today. At last year’s meet, Stokke officially became Orange County’s best pole vaulter with a first-place clearance of 13 feet.

“It’s been a little slow for her coming back, but the last couple of weeks, she’s vaulting better than ever,” Newport Harbor track and field Coach Eric Tweit said. “She’s ready to jump higher than ever. Her practices were so good over spring break. It’s one of those things, you can tell she’s ready to vault.”

After having gone through physical therapy all last summer and working on rounding into record-breaking form, Stokke said she feels close to 100% again.

“I’m pretty close. I have everything going, I just need to put it all together at the same time,” Stokke said. “I just want to get back to where I was, but go even higher. I want to get as high as I can.”

Stokke, a former gymnast, appears to have the dedication and the talent necessary to reach her desired heights.

“No. 1 is her work ethic. No. 2 is, she wants to be good,” Tweit said. “She’s willing to put in all the effort. Every meet, it’s been one little thing holding her back. It’s a matter of when she puts it all together, not if.

“Pole vaulting is so technical,” Tweit continued. “You have to do so many things right. It’s one of the toughest events there is.”

Not only is Stokke a tremendous pole vaulter with tons of upside, she has the right attitude to go with it.

“She handles herself very well. She’s a great ambassador for our track program,” Tweit said. “Everybody likes her.”

The Allison Stokke File

Hometown: Newport Beach

Height: 5-foot-6

Weight: 120

Sport: Track and Field

Position: Pole vault

Coach: Eric Tweit

Favorite food: Italian

Favorite movie: “Garden State”

Favorite athletic moment: “Being able to work at coming back from my injury.”

Week in review: Stokke, who missed the end of last season with a broken ankle, was the only pole vaulter at the Mount SAC Relays to clear 11 feet, 7 inches, and 12-1 on her first try. Stokke had to settle for third place when she cleared 12-7, but knocked the bar off on her way down.dpt-athlete22.IMGGraphicInfoPB1Q75EC20060422PB1Q75ECNo Captiondpt.22-aow-stokke-CPhotoInfo6T1Q754D20060422iy3c6lncDON LEACH / DAILY PILOT(LA)