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03/17/2016 12:00 AMOld Saybrook track coach Pete Capezzone persuaded Katie Seegert to try the pole vault when she was in middle school and he was clearly onto something because Katie has etched her name in the record books for both the Rams and the Shoreline Conference.
Katie began with gymnastics before fully focusing on track and she first competed in the pole vault at Old Saybrook during the outdoor season of her freshman year. This winter marked Katie’s second indoor campaign and the senior captain made it count by winning the pole vault crown at the Shoreline Conference Championship and Class S State Championship with heights of 10 feet-7 inches and 10-6, respectively. To make her season that much better, Katie set both the school and Shoreline meet records with her mark of 10-7 at the conference competition.
“Getting those two wins and setting the records were really exciting. I had to work really hard to get where I am. Being able to break the conference record, as well, was a great feeling,” says Katie, who also won the Shoreline title for the high jump at 5 feet in helping Old Saybrook take second as a squad. “The high jump was right after the pole vault, so I was tired, but I knew I had to come back and win the high jump for the team, so we could try to catch [team champion] Coginchaug. It was just so great when I cleared 5 feet on my last attempt.”
Like anyone new to a track and field event, Katie needed to put in some extra time and effort away from Old Saybrook’s practices in order to hone her craft. Still, true to the heart of any champion, Katie knows that there’s no end in her quest for perfection.
“I started doing the vault just at school, but then I started going to a club in Norwich to work on it more, and I saw great improvement. I worked on my knee drive and getting inverted on my height. I saw big leaps from my sophomore year to my junior year and then from my junior to senior,” says Katie, who originally broke Old Saybrook’s pole vault record at the Bacon Invitational on Jan. 30. “I just kept working on what Coach Capezzone told me to work on. I’m still working on getting better with the top of my jump, yet I’m getting there, I feel.”
Coach Capezzone adds that Katie often has to be prevented from preparing too much because she stops at nothing to reach her full potential.
“Katie is a technician and a real hard worker. She goes the extra steps to be the best she can be. Many times we have to stop her from practicing as we are afraid she might overdo it,” says Capezzone. “She is also well liked by her teammates and leads through example.”
Katie’s contributions to Old Saybrook track go well beyond her winning distances. She also uses her role as a senior leader to make an impact on her younger teammates.
“I love being able to be influential to the younger girls. I just tell them to work hard and, if they do that, they will see great improvement,” says Katie. “I also want to help them whenever they need help in a certain event.”
As she now turns her attention to the outdoor season this spring, Katie will compete in the 100 hurdles, along with the pole vault and high jump, and she plans to make her mechanics a priority. Looking back on her indoor career, Katie’s glad she got to experience the best of both worlds by watching herself and her fellow Rams’ athletes thrive both in and out of competition.
“In the pole vault, I want to keep working on my technique and getting back to the basics. For the high jump, I want to work on my approach and getting stronger in my run. For the hurdles, I want to get a better start,” says Katie, who thanks Capezzone and Skyjumpers Connecticut pole vault club coach Russ VerSteeg. “I’m glad I joined the indoor track team. It’s been awesome watching everyone grow into good athletes and having good friends from it. We were a close team and this season was a great indoor year for myself and everyone.”