Friends in high places

Brett Miller and Sean Hartigan jump for rival schools, but regularly practice together.

CRYSTAL RIVER - Brett Miller stands in the sun looming over Sean Hartigan. When they're on the ground, the 6-foot-3 senior from Crystal River has a big edge over his 6-foot rival.

Once they're in the air it's a different story.

The two pole vaulters have been practicing together for two years at Crystal River. They are closer than many teammates, though Hartigan competes for rival Dunnellon. The rivalry is friendly, but there's a serious undercurrent.

"I want to win, to bring the trophy back to Dunnellon," Hartigan says.

"You wish," Miller quips back.

At meets, it's usually a one-on-one duel between the two.

"It's definitely fun because there is no one else close to us," Hartigan said.

"Yeah we get to the meets, take our (practice) steps, and sit down for an hour or two hours until they come in at our height," Miller said.

Hartigan's sister was the first, and only athlete other than him, to compete in pole vaulting at Dunnellon. But when rules changes increased the size of the required mats, Dunnellon didn't upgrade, leaving Hartigan without a place to practice.

Hartigan had a clear edge last year, but this year Miller has improved by more than a foot. He hit 13 feet at the Kiwanis Invitational then bettered that with a 13-6 at Central. Hartigan improved to 14 feet at Lecanto.

Both are undefeated in their counties and will likely advance to meet again at the state meet. Since Hartigan gets out of school late, Miller waits until 4:30, after most of the Crystal River track team is done practicing, to start his training with Hartigan. In their off-time both go to Miller's house, where his dad built a pit for practicing.

Hartigan picked up the sport as a freshman after seeing his sister compete.

"I heard it was the most dangerous sport in high school, so I came out and did it like a dummy," said Miller. "It's a rush, a blast, falling 13, 14-feet from the air."

Hartigan agrees that thinking might be overrated.

"Technically you have to be kind of stupid," he said. "You can't think too much, because if you do, you'll just psyche yourself out."

Both hope to compete in college at USF, Florida Southern or Florida International University.

They'd love to go together. Miller learned from Hartigan's plant and Hartigan learned from Miller's swing technique of getting over the bar.

"We're planning on taking first and second," Hartigan said.

But there aren't going to be any breaks for friendship.

"I'm going to act like he's another athlete and whip his butt," Miller.