The morning sun broke through soggy overcast Austin skies Friday morning just in time for the beginning of the 1-A girls state pole vault competition.  As the announcer called each of the nine competitors by name and school she raised her hand, saluting the crowd.  Last called, and smallest of the group, SAHS Lady Mountaineer Hannah Hartman waved to the cheering spectators.

But when the winners stepped up onto the stands only ninety minutes later, slight little Hannah Hartman mounted the third place podium.  Two short years after picking up a vaulting pole for the first time, Hartman proved to the world that she was a state-class pole-vaulter.

Six of the nine girls went out in short order.  Then Hartman and her two main competitors all cleared the bar at ten feet.  At ten feet six inches, a height Hartman cleared to win third at regional, she failed to clear the bar on her first attempt.  On her second attempt, the wet track and water in the vaulting box caused Hartman to tumble wildly to the right of the box, drawing a red flag from the official—a “miss”. A rattled Hartman stepped onto the approach track for her last attempt and missed on her final try.  The girls from Evant and Water Valley each cleared ten-nine, but failed to clear any higher.

An all-around athlete, Hartman is varsity volleyball setter, competed at the national level in gymnastics, and placed eighth in 100 meter hurdles and fifth in 300 meter hurdles at Regional this year.  An academic star also, Hannah is a member of National Honor Society at SAHS.

Photo contributed.