Track: It's a little crazy what King's Fork's Kelly has done in pole vault

SUFFOLK

Teresa Kelly always has known that her son Allen marches to a different beat.

When he was younger, she remembers how he was always climbing on everything, from trees to rooftops.

“He just has no fear about anything,” she said. “But I always knew he would be good at something. And I knew he would be good at something that would be different.”

One day her path crossed that of Cary Carter, who told her how he was retired but that he coached pole vaulters. After learning more, she thought pole vaulting might be something Allen would like to try.

“He had just been watching Mike Morrison compete in the pole vault that previous spring,” she said of the former Great Bridge and current University of Florida standout. “So it kind of sparked his interest.”

The first day of practice, however, wasn’t good.

“He just threw his arms up in the air when he got home and said, 'I don’t know if I’ll ever get this,’ ” she recalled.

But Allen, now a junior at King’s Fork High School, would get it soon enough. In just 16 months, he has gone from clearing 11-6 at the 2007 Southeastern District indoor meet to a personal-best performance of 15-6 earlier this month.

“I had no idea that I would be doing this good,” Kelly said. “I was just hoping to be an average vaulter ...

“But this is the perfect event for me because you have to be a little crazy to do it, at least that’s what everybody says. You can’t be scared, but you have to have guts to do it.”

So now Kelly has won four district titles and an Eastern Region indoor title. He placed third at the 2007 Group AAA state outdoor meet and was second at the 2008 state indoor meet.

On Saturday at Todd Stadium in Newport News, he goes after his first region outdoor title.

There’s no doubt in Carter’s mind that Kelly will get it. He said Kelly’s quick rise in the event is unheard of.

“When he came out, Allen was a natural,” said Carter, who has coached the pole vault for nearly a decade and learned under former Great Bridge pole vault guru Rich Fulford. “He has the speed, agility, gymnastic ability, quickness and endurance. And he just picked everything up fast.”

King’s Fork track coach Cecil Phillips said Kelly’s commitment, passion and willingness have helped his progress.

“The pole vault is a special event, and it takes a different kind of kid to do it,” Phillips said. “And Allen has no fear, plus he’s extremely coachable, and he and coach Carter have really bonded. The kid was looking for a niche, and now he’s found it.”

Kelly’s goal this week is to clear 16 feet. That would put him in position to go after a state title next week. His 15-6 performance is tied for second in the state this season with Deep Run’s Matthew Armentrout. They trail E.C. Glass senior Daniel Inge, who has state-best clearance of 16-4 3/4.

“But Inge doesn’t jump 16 consistently,” Kelly said. “So if I can pull out a 16-footer, then I could have a chance to win the state title.”

Kelly realizes none of his success would be possible without the support he has received from his school’s administration since vaulting poles cost $400 to $500 each. So far, Kelly has gone through seven poles.

“I know a lot of parents that we talk to can’t believe that the school buys my poles because they have to buy their own poles,” he said. “That’s why I’m just so thankful that we have a program that can afford them. And I just try to do the best I can to give them something back in exchange.”

Dan Ward, principal at King’s Fork, said the school will continue to do whatever it can to support Kelly.

“We should be in the business of providing an opportunity for kids,” said Ward, a former vaulter himself. “We can’t do everything ... but if it’s a question of something that he needs to get better, then we need to do the best that we can to get that for him. That’s just the way it should be. It’s not just for Allen but for any student.”

If Kelly keeps rising at the rate he’s going, then more poles will be needed.

“He has the capabilities of jumping 17 feet before he finishes his high school career,” Carter said. “I just hope I can get him to that level.”