20 February 2025
After winning the 2025 Australian National All Schools’ Under 18 Pole Vault Gold Medal, old scholar and squad assistant coach Jordan Kildare (WDK 2016) nominated me for the New Zealand based Potts Classic competition. Jordan had been contacted by the New Zealand Women’s National Pole Vault Coach James Steyn and Meet Director Richard Potts. They were keen to attract International up and coming pole vaulters to the event. A bronze level Track and Field event is held in Hastings New Zealand each year as part of the World Athletics Continental Tour.
The trip saw me fly to Auckland and spend a night billeted with a junior pole vaulter and her family. I then travelled with James and Women’s Olympic Pole Vault Bronze Medallist Eliza McCarthy on a five-hour road trip to Hastings, Hawkes Bay New Zealand.
In Hastings, the sponsors and Meet Director kindly arranged and subsidised seven nights accommodation for me at the Institute of Sport/Mitre 10 Sports Park complete with indoor Pole Vault facilities. I have never had the opportunity to experience indoor Pole Vault facilities. While there, I was given the opportunity to train with and receive coaching from both James and Eliza. Both athletes, inspirational to say the least, have made very successful careers from Pole Vault. Additionally, during my stay I was fortunate to visit a local school in Hastings and help administer a ‘Run, Jump, Throw’ clinic.
The whole experience was amazing, not just for my athletics but also for my personal growth. It included traveling alone on my first overseas trip, visiting a country I have never been too before and seeing amazing countryside. I would never have thought I’d spend my first day of Year 12 jumping off waterfalls while surrounded by inspirational athletes.
The culmination of my trip saw me compete at the Potts Classic, where I placed 2nd taking home the Silver Medal and my first ever cash prize for competing in a sport that I love. Memories I’ll cherish for a lifetime.
Lawson Jones
Year 12 Student (Howard House)
