BENTONVILLE -- Isabel Neal said her mind would have been blown had somebody walked up to her in January and began to foresee what she would do as a pole vaulter in the next few months.
The freshman needed just one high school meet to clear 10 feet, 6 inches and broke Bentonville's school record. She went from there to win the 7A-West Conference title in that event, then finished third in the Class 7A state meet with a personal-best 11-6 performance.
Girls Track Newcomer of the Year
Isabel Neal
School: Bentonville
Class: Freshman
Height: 5-7
Notable: Became interested in the pole vault after seeing a track meet on television and decided to try it. … Cleared 10 feet, 10 inches to finish fourth in the state Class 5A-7A indoor meet in February. … Broke the school record by clearing 10-6 in her first outdoor meet, the Springdale Schools Invitational, on March 13, then went 11-6 the following week in the Tiger Relays. … Won the 7A-West Conference title by clearing 11-0, then took third in the Class 7A state meet by clearing 11-6.
It shouldn't be a shock that Neal's accomplishments make her this year's selection as girls track Newcomer of the Year for larger schools by NWA Media. The stunner: she has spent just eight months on the event.
"I was a gymnast for six years," Neal said. "I decided I wanted to stop that because I actually saw a track meet on TV, and I was more interested in that.
"We have a family friend that coaches pole vaulting, so I went into it and loved it. I still love it."
It was a humble beginning for Neal as she went to an AAU meet after two weeks of training and "wiped out hard," but it was also a great learning experience. She then went to another competition at Oral Roberts a month later and cleared 10-0.
It was about that time Bentonville girls track coach Randy Ramaker heard about Neal and what kind of potential she had. It didn't take him long to realize that she could help the Lady Tigers this season and had her immediately hit the high school ranks instead of spending time on the ninth-grade team.
"In thinking of moving a child from the ninth-grade team to the varsity level, in our eyes, we say 'can this person score points in the conference and state meets,'" Ramaker said. "That question was easily answered when she went to the state indoor meet and cleared 10-10.
"From that point on, there was no question to keep her up there or not. She could have easily went to the ninth-grade team and won every meet by a long way, but I think kids like to be challenged. I know she did."
Not everything went well for Neal, even though she opened the outdoor season by winning the Springdale Schools Invitational and cleared 11-6 the following week at the Tiger Relays. When she competed in the Cyclone Relays at Russellville, she only cleared 9-0 and finished 10th.
She was back on track the following week when she cleared 11-0 and won the Bulldog Relays in Fayetteville the following week. That same height was what she cleared to win the conference championship, then she matched her season-high at the state meet.
"I went into the season knowing I wouldn't finish first in every meet," Neal said. "I was going into high school sort of blindfolded. I didn't know what to expect, but I went into it and found that I fit right in.
But I pushed my way to the point where I hit my goal for this year. I wanted to be more comfortable with the competition, and I wanted to get above 11 feet. I did that. Now I'm ready to work really hard this summer and get better."
Sports on 06/02/2014