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FRANK PASTORCentral High pole vaulter Kurt Lee dedicated himself to reaching 15 feet and grabs a state title in the process.
BROOKSVILLE - Kurt Lee hasn't seen his mother in 10 years, but the Central High School senior says she constantly watches over him.
Friday, she saw her son reach unprecedented heights.
Lee claimed the first state track and field title in Central history by winning the pole vault with a school and county record vault of 15 feet at the Class 3A meet at the University of Florida's Percy Beard Stadium.
After receiving his gold medal, Lee's thoughts turned briefly to his mother, Gail, who died of cancer when he was 9.
"I think she'd be very proud," Lee said.
Lee accepted congratulations from teachers and classmates Monday at school. His accomplishment was recognized during the morning announcements, and students viewed a video of his record-breaking performance.
Lee, who entered the season with a personal best of 13 feet, aimed for 15 feet from the first day of practice. That he reached his goal came as no surprise to coach Alan Solomon, who knew Lee attended camps and watched him attempt as many as 20 to 25 vaults each day at practice.
"He just constantly works," Solomon said. "He's usually the last one out of the pole vault pit and the first one in it."
Lee could not describe the feeling of winning his first state title but said it compared to the first time he set the school record last season. He was particularly pleased that he did not miss a vault for only the second time this season. The other time was at the Florida Relays.
"The main thing I wanted to do was work on my consistency," Lee said. "I didn't want to miss a jump the entire meet."
It's a good thing he didn't. Brian Calyore of Naples also cleared 15 feet, but Lee was awarded the championship because he reached it in fewer attempts.
Lee said he was fueled by the memory of last season's state meet, when he failed to reach the opening height of 13 feet.
"I didn't want to do that again," he said.
Lee dedicated his title to former Hernando High track and cross country runner Zak Lukas, who died in a watercraft accident in the Gulf of Mexico in December. Lee and Lukas competed against one another in both sports and practiced together last season.
"He would have been happy," Lee said. "We were pretty good friends."
Lee credited assistant coach Dick Hill and former Central track and cross country coach Richard Ortiz for helping to improve his running and stamina.
Ortiz was suspended in April after the school district learned of private workouts at which authorities say Ortiz met separately with two female team members and touched them inappropriately.
Lee wasn't the only Central athlete to qualify for the state meet. Junior Kyle Keene was 10th in the high jump with a height of 6 feet, 2 inches and 14th in the triple jump with a distance of 43 feet, 0.25 inch. Sophomore Joey Walker placed 14th in the pole vault with a vault of 12-6.
Keene was amazed that Lee excels at such a dangerous sport.
"It's crazy," Keene said. "It's something I would never do."
Lee already is aiming higher. He has earned a spot on the track team at the University of Florida, which he will attend in the fall on an academic scholarship. He hopes to clear 17 feet as a freshman.
"I know I can get higher," Lee said.
- Frank Pastor can be reached toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 1430. Send e-mail to pastor@sptimes.com