Matt Cyr learned a painful lesson during his sophomore year.
A tireless workout warrior and multi-season track athlete, Cyr decided to compete in cross country running. As both shins began to ache from his rigorous training, he shrugged off suggestions of resting, and instead continued to log 10 to 15 miles running per workout.
In the middle of a race, he dropped to the ground with what he thought was a severe case of double shin splints.
“I had to be carried off by my father and my coach,” said Cyr. “I had stress fractures in both legs.”
He’s still paying.
After sitting out 10 months, Cyr spent his junior track seasons in recovery mode. This winter the Lewiston High School senior has had a breakout indoor season. He runs the front leg on the Blue Devils’ 800-meter relay team, which is currently ranked as the top unit in the state. He’s also scoring points in both the long jump and the 55-meter dash, but the pole vault is his specialty.
Last Friday he broke the 32-year old school record by vaulting 13-feet, 7-inches at a KVAC meet at Bowdoin College. The vault is the highest in the state this season. On hand at the meet was Peter Slovenski who hit the 13-6 mark two years before Bruce Jenner graced his first Wheaties box.
“He’s been giving me a few pointers,” said Cyr. “Normally I’d go to 13-6, but I wanted that little edge. (After the vault) I think I did two back flips. He came over and shook my hand. It was really fun.”
The art of pole vaulting is not for everyone.
“Everyone always wants to try pole vaulting,” says Lewiston coach Ray Putnam. “You look at the kids and see if they have the aptitude. I look at a kid who has a strong upper body and good speed. The first thing I ask them to do is walk on their hands. That puts them upside down and sees if they have the upper body strength.”
Cyr not only fits the mold with his upper and lower body power, he also has the drive.
“He has a work ethic you don’t see in a lot of kids,” says Putnam. “He’s going to push himself and push himself. Some kids have the athletic ability and others have the drive. Cyr has both. That’s a wonderful thing.”
In the summer before his freshman year, Cyr was talked into trying the event. After just three weeks of training, he could vault over 10 feet.
He was a natural.
“That was straight pull,” says Cyr of the vaulting technique. “You’re pretty much like a big swing set. It was grabbing a pole and running as fast as I could.”
After topping out at about 11 1/2 feet, Cyr was shown the conventional “Bend” form about two years ago.
“I’m still learning and trying to perfect it,” he says.
Cyr has been getting technical tips from Slovenski. He usually makes the trek to Bowdoin one or twice a week to work on his vaulting.
“I haven’t had (a pole vault) coach,” says Cyr. “It’s nice to have someone to tell me what I’m doing wrong. I used to train just by trying to pole vault higher and higher. Now I work on drills so I can focus on my approach, the plant and keeping my body straight. A lot of times I’d go underneath, now I’m jumping up and keeping my body behind the pole.”
Slovenski’s son, Steve, set the KVAC meet record at 14-7 last year as a senior for Brunswick. At the state meet he topped out at 14-3 to set another mark. Cyr finished third with a vault of 12-6.
Cyr is shooting for both of the records over the next few weeks. While his shins continue to occasionally plague him, he’s careful not to jeopardize his health.
“When I plant, I (set) my left foot down,” says Cyr and that’s the (shin) that hurts the most. Even a simple jog can hurt. I’m learning how to run the proper way. It’s important to train but rest is the most important thing to do.”
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