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Vaulters continue county's legacy

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By BILL WARD | TBO.com

Published: May 10, 2009

WINTER PARK - After Hillsborough County produced back-to-back titlists in the girls pole vault at this weekend's Class 3A and 4A state track championships - giving it seven gold medals since the event was introduced to the state series in 1996 - one might wonder what makes the county a hotbed for a niche event.

"If I had to point to one person over the years, it would have to be Dave Watson," Wharton girls coach Wes Newton said of the former Hillsborough and Wharton track coach. "He's had a hand in coaching just about all the champions from our county."

Watson, a former University of Florida vaulter who now teaches at Brandon High, is indeed something of a vault guru. The county's girls vault winners began with Bloomingdale's Chelo Canino taking state titles in 1999 and 2000, followed by Gaither's Dara Altman in 2001 and 2002, Wharton's Natalie Moser in 2003 and, now, Wharton's London Enos in Friday's 3A finals and Morgan Scherschel in Saturday's 4A meet. Sickles' Nicole Smith finished third in 4A Saturday.

The bad news is, the event will no longer be funded for the county's public schools.

Bill Ward

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