Berkeley High School senior and pole vaulter Gabe Miller plants his feet in long strides as he approaches the pit, driving his pole into the ground and launching himself over the crossbar with a twist of his body. This spring, Miller is aiming to apply the technical and mental growth he’s made through his four years with the sport and cap off his final high school season with a victorious end to his pole vaulting journey.
Miller first joined the BHS track and field team in his freshman year, influenced by his shared interest in the sport with his mom and from videos seen on social media. However, despite his enthusiasm, it took time before the sport truly clicked for him. In the first weeks of the season, with a beginner level pole vaulting experience and a lack of coaching support due to a management issue, Miller was thrown into his first competition. Even with a bloody nose and desire to quit, Miller persisted. “I was like ‘I gotta give it at least one more shot’. And I never quit,” Miller said, “The main thing I like is that it’s a real adrenaline rush. I won’t admit it at the moment, but looking back I’m like, that was really fun.”
For Miller, the sport not only provides him an outlet of joy, but it also allows him to foster skills of personal growth and persistence which he translates to other aspects of his life. Entering his sophomore season, Miller encountered a mental block. No matter how many times he approached the pit, he was unable to clear himself of the hurdle of launching his body through the air. Under supportive instruction from his coach, Miller chose to take a two week break. From there, he was able to vault the highest in a meet, claim the NorCal Frosh/Soph Championship title, and qualify for North Coast Section Bayshore for two consecutive years in a row. “It’s really taught me mental persistence and how to take advice and implement it,” Miller said, “I realized it’s a hard sport. Obviously I improved every season, but the main thing that changed was my mentality. I used to be a little harder on myself, but it doesn’t help when you’re hard on yourself in a sport where it’s entirely mental.”
In high school, pole vaulting falls under the category of field events in track and field. Winners are determined by the vaulter who clears the highest height, yet much of the sport’s significance comes from the athletes’ personal achievements rather than rankings. “It’s not like most of the competitive sports because while there are meets, most people care just about beating themselves and their own record,” Miller said, “Everybody’s trying to help each other get better through giving technique and advice. That’s what I love about it, everybody working together.”