Five ‘Horns Set To Compete Friday At State

May 07, 2008 - 16:19:09 CDT.

Cutter Bernhard has bronze, but he wants more.

The Harper High School senior pole vaulter won third at state last year as a junior. That was when he set the goal of winning it all -- taking gold -- in Conference A at the University Interscholastic League State Track and Field Meet at Mike Myers Stadium that is scheduled on the University of Texas campus in Austin at 9 a.m. Friday morning.

The 15’ vault he recorded at the regional meet in Huntsville two weeks ago ranks him first among the qualifiers. His best this season is a 15’3” recorded in LaPryor over spring break. Last year Bernhard jumped 14’9” at state.

“After the experience last year just getting the opportunity as a junior to go to Austin, it has really calmed my nerves for this year,” he said. In preparation for a return trip, during the last two weeks in practice, he said, “I have approached it just as if it was a regular track meet with nothing on the line and I was just going there to have fun and jump.”

Other Conference A qualifiers in the pole vault include Hewitt Holmes of Iraan and Johnathon Paxton of Lovelady at 14’6”, Billy Sawyer of Port Aransas at 14’, Brock Steinbock of Sudan at 13’6”, Cody Welch of DeLeon at 13’4”, Justin Paxton of Lovelady and Jeremy King of Quanah at 13’.

Bernhard, who has already signed to vault at Sam Houston State University next year, said that at this point in the season his workouts are not extremely difficult.

His coach, Allen Kaiser, “has me doing a lot of drills focusing on fixing little improvements throughout the vault,” Bernhard said. “At this point in the season, there’s no need to wear yourself out. We are mainly focusing on having my body feel physically fresh for state. I don’t need any bumps or bruises on May 9.”

As Coach Kaiser says, “The hay’s in the barn,” Bernhard explained.

He said that for this meet -- the last of his high school career -- his parents (Tina and Clyde Bernhard) have told him to have fun and that there is no pressure.

“They have always been there for me and have always supported everything I’ve done,” he said. “They have never missed a single event in my life and they always tell me they are proud of my accomplishments.”

Harper Coach Cody White “has allowed me to basically do my own thing for the past two years. He has allowed me to only pole vault, which has turned out to be a great thing,” Bernhard said. “Coach Kaiser has been a great influence. I’m so thankful he spent his time helping me develop as a pole vaulter.”

Bernhard plans to make his first vault at 14’ “unless conditions don’t allow it,” he said. “I mainly come in at a height that I feel very comfortable clearing but not so low that I am completely worn out by the time we get to 15’ or 15’6” bars.”

He said that his high school career “has been wonderful. I wouldn’t change a thing about it. I have met a lot of great people and have really had a blast pole vaulting for Harper High School.”

Girls 4x4 Running Saturday

Harper will also be represented by a 4x400 meter relay team that includes Bethany Mounce, Amelia Herring, Ruthann Mounce and Claire Jones.

They are bringing a regional time of 4:10.93 into the state competition, which will be Saturday afternoon at 3:05 p.m. at Mike Myers Stadium.

The girls will be facing teams from Seymour (4:02.96), Hamlin (4:05.24), Groveton (4:08.12), Lindsay (4:08.42), Vega (4:09.48) and Falls City (4:10.11).

Jones has state experience from 2006 and 2007 when she competed in the 800 meter run.

Additional information about the girls was not available.