Boys track and field: Pole vaulting runs in the blood for Iraan's Holmes

IRAAN Back in sixth grade, most kids are dreaming about Little League titles.

Winning a state football title in high school. Maybe, just maybe making it to Memorial Stadium in Austin to play for the Longhorns.

Back in sixth grade, Shane Holmes wanted to be a pole vaulter.

Holmes has realized his dream.

For the second consecutive season, the Iraan senior has qualified to compete in the UIL Class 1A State Championships in Austin.

He finished fourth with a vault of 14 feet a year ago.

"It's kind of the family sport," said Holmes, who is scheduled to compete at 9 a.m. Friday. "When I was in sixth grade, I told my granddad I wanted to pole vault, and he was all for it."

Pole vaulting runs in the family blood.

Buck Turk, Holmes' grandfather, was the head football coach and athletic director in Sanderson for years.

Turk also coached the pole vault. Both of Holmes' uncles vaulted.

After his grandson told Turk he wanted to join the family fraternity, the family patriarch started teaching Holmes the tricks of the trade.

Turk started teaching his grandson to train on the still rings used in gymnastics, to teach his body the balance and strength needed to pole vault.

Genetics were only part of the puzzle that has helped Holmes qualify for state twice.

More than any other event in track and field, pole vault requires an athlete who isn't afraid to risk life or limb.

"I'm kind of a crazy guy," Holmes said. "It's my overall personality. When we go to the lake or something, I'm always the first one to jump off the cliffs."

Daredevils don't like to settle for less than the best.

And Holmes was not happy with his 14-foot, second-place finish at the Region I-1A Championships.

He believes he can do better at state.

So does his coach.

"He likes to make himself better," Iraan boys track and field coach Coby Owen said. "He likes challenges, and he's got a lot of guts, a lot of heart and a lot of information."

Holmes wants to challenge for a state title this year.

Competing at the state meet in Austin a year ago should give him an edge.

Besides the problems with nerves that plague every first-time athlete at the state meet, Holmes wasn't used to the runway at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin.

Austin has a fast runway, the kind of runway that can throw off a vaulter's approach.

Holmes will be ready for the runway this year.

"It's like running on air," Holmes said. "It's faster, and you get faster turnover. This year we know about it, and I want to get a gold medal."

A gold medal in the pole vault.

That would be a dream realized.