The 2nd Track Meet

If you remember, my daughter Kelsey didn't clear the initial height in the pole vault in her first track meet. It was okay, though. She'd only had two days of practice and none of the other girls in her grade cleared that height either.

So, after a week of practice and last week's experience, Tracy and I were a bit reticent when they called her name out to go first.

On her first jump she cleared the entry-level. She was thrilled (the smile on the landing mats gave her away). Tracy and I were thrilled (the unintentional overclapping we were doing gave us away).

On the second jump, six inches higher, she goes up and over with no problem. She was more reserved in being thrilled, but thrilled nonetheless. Tracy and I were less reservedly thrilled, but thrilled nonetheless.

Competitors were already knocked out and it was between her and one other girl. They both missed their first two jumps at the third height, 6' 6". Kelsey missed and was out...and the other girl cleared hers.

Kelsey was kicking herself because she was pretty close to clearing the next height. Maybe next week.

Tracy and were too busy being happy for her and her 2nd place finish to worry about next week. There's something cool about watching your child accomplish something through hard work and seeing them enjoy the rewards of that and you simply can't put that into words.