PORT NECHES — Port Neches-Groves senior Jade Weatherford was not too thrilled after the Joe Williamson Relays at The Reservation Thursday.
Weatherford finished second in the pole vault with a leap of 8-feet-6.
It was a full two feet below her personal best jump of 10-feet-6 she set as a junior.
So Weatherford has decided it is time to get serious again.
“This year I have only been able to practice maybe twice a week,” Weatherford said. “I have not had that much time because I work after school.”
Weatherford’s plan to get back on track is to start practicing on Saturdays. She wants to finish her career with a jump of over 11 feet.
The next chance for Weatherford to jump is next Thursday at the Vidor Relays.
Weatherford first decided to start competing in the pole vault in seventh grade.
“We had to pick something and that is what I picked,” Weatherford said. “My dad actually laughed at me at first. I went out and got first so thought maybe this was an event I could be good at.”
She proved her worth last year. She had wrist surgery and in her first jump of the year set the personal best of 10-feet-6.
“I am still not sure how that happened,” Weatherford added. “I am going to get back to taking this very serious.”