By Blake Colston
Sports Editor
Piedmont’s Karelle Morgan is the best pole vaulter in school history.
She could’ve held that title by default with minimal success – PHS didn’t have any history of competitors in the event – but, instead, Morgan became a two-time champion, culminating with her second straight state title Friday afternoon in Ardmore.
Morgan went to state as the overwhelming favorite to repeat as champion and didn’t let the pressure affect her performance.
“I wanted to prove to myself that what I did last season wasn’t a fluke,” she said.
Although she was confident, nerves were still a factor, Morgan said.
“There’s a pit of anticipation in your stomach before your vault. I looked at it and said, ‘I’ve got this,'” Morgan said.
She broke her own school record multiple times the last two seasons before tying her personal-best vault of 11’00 at state. Morgan is now alone atop Piedmont’s record book in the pole vault.
It was a record Morgan didn’t see that piqued her interest freshman year.
During a routine band physical in Piedmont’s athletic fieldhouse, Morgan and a group of friends spotted a wall full of track and field records.
“But there was nothing for pole vault,” Morgan recalled. “My friends and I thought it would be funny if I set the record.”
Morgan didn’t let it go with a laugh. She started work with a personal coach and joined Piedmont’s track team.
After a few months of ‘just smashing into the bar,’ she cleared 7’00. By regionals her freshman season she vaulted 8’6, good for second place and a state berth. Morgan made it over 9’0 at the state tournament and narrowly missed earning a medal.
“It came naturally because of the body control I already had from being a gymnast,” she said. “I really enjoyed it right away.”
COVID-19 cancelled her sophomore season, but she remained in shape and next season showed up to the state meet as a regional champion with a vault of 10’6.
“People still barely knew I existed because Piedmont hadn’t had a pole vaulter before,” she said. “I don’t think I even understood the seeding and what it meant at the time.”
Two hours later, Morgan was a state champion.
“I was like…no way that just happened,” she said.
This season was different. Morgan expected to win and everyone else expected her to win, too.
“With the numbers, I knew I had a good chance, but I just wanted to do my best. I could handle whatever the results were if I did that,” she said.
Morgan didn’t leave with the team Thursday night. Piedmont’s drum major who also plays the saxophone and flute, stayed in town for a band concert and headed down to Ardmore early Friday morning.
The busy schedule made no difference. She cleared a personal-record 11’00 and easily repeated as state champion.
“It was so exciting. I was so happy for everyone else, but pole vault is such a personal sport and I hit my PR…I was really excited,” Morgan said.
