Beijing Olympics 2008

A series of injuries derailed Stacy Dragila’s pole vaulting career, but the 36-year-old is back in Idaho with her focus on Beijing.
The 2000 Olympic gold medalist and three-time world champion is on the comeback trail from her second Achilles surgery in two years, and her journey brings her to the Treasure Valley on Saturday.
The Blue & Orange Classic begins at 9 a.m. at the Jacksons Track at the Idaho Sports Center in Nampa and will feature college athletes from Boise State, Arizona, California and Stanford among others. The women’s pole vault is scheduled for 1 p.m.
“I’m kind of just getting the rust and the cobwebs out,” said Dragila, a 1995 Idaho State graduate who hopes to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. “I think it’s feasible to jump 14 feet this weekend, maybe a little higher. I would be really happy with that.”
This coming from a two-time Olympian, the pioneer who once dominated the sport and still holds the American indoor record of 15 feet, 9 1/2 inches.
Dragila was the gold-medal favorite for the 2004 Athens Olympics, but failed to qualify for the finals when Achilles’ tendinitis in both heels grounded her. It happened again at the 2005 world championships in Finland.
Dragila didn’t throw in the towel, and in the summer of 2006, had surgery on her right Achilles. But after a strong comeback season last spring, Dragila again struggled with injuries and couldn’t compete at the U.S. outdoor championships.
In June, she had surgery on her left Achilles and spent the summer and fall rehabbing the injury. Dragila, who moved to Phoenix in 2003, moved back to her house in Pocatello earlier this month, where she’s training under Idaho State head track and field coach Dave Nielsen.
“I got the OK from my doctor to go full steam ahead and decided to come back to Idaho,” Dragila said. “Judging by the weather, I picked a bad time, but it’s nice to see the snow again.”
Dragila will compete against American outdoor record-holder Jenn Stuczynski, 25, at the Millrose Games in New York next week. Stuczynski bettered Dragila’s U.S. outdoor record by half an inch last May with a vault of 15-10› and later became the first American to clear 16-0.
“I think (qualifying for Beijing) is quite realistic for Stacy,” Nielsen said. “Not to say it’s easy, but frankly, watching what she does and what other gals have been doing, (Stuczynski) is the only one who can hold a candle to her in the U.S. She’s still very strong and athletic.”
Dragila vaulted 12-11 using a short approach at a meet in Pocatello last week.
“I wasn’t trying to make a huge height. I just wanted to make sure I was ready before I came up to Boise,” Dragila said. “I feel like (the Blue & Orange Classic) is a good, low-key way to prep for Millrose.”
After her trip to New York, Dragila said she plans to come back to Idaho for two meets. She’ll compete in Pocatello’s Mountain States Invitational on Feb. 8-9 and will do some exhibition vaults at the Simplot Games the following week.
The U.S. indoor championships, where Dragila is an eight-time champion, are Feb. 23-24 in Boston. To qualify for Beijing, the nine-time U.S. outdoor champion must finish in the top three at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore., on June 27-July 6.

from: idahostatesman.com