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BY BILL STEWART, Staff Writer 07/04/2008

enlarge Staff photo by Andy Molloy

AIRBORNE: Bethany Dumas wrapped up her Cony High School career as the Kennebec Journal’s Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year. In her last high school meet, she cleared 11 feet, 9 inches to win the pole vault at the New England track and field championships last month.

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Bethany Dumas didn't vault what she wanted at the New England track and field championships this spring.

"I would've liked to make 12," she said. "The whole season I would've liked to make 12."

But the Cony senior settled for 11 feet, 9 inches, which was plenty good enough to win a New England title that capped her impressive track and field career.

"It was an awesome season," Dumas said. "I went out there and won New Englands. I'm pretty pleased. I competed against the top athletes all around New England. I didn't really know what to expect. There were some good vaulters."

For another dominating performance this spring, Dumas is the Kennebec Journal girl track and field athlete of the year. Hall-Dale's Laura Peterson and Magen Ellis were also considered.

At the beginning of the season, Dumas went into a "slump," as she called it. She blamed it on a sprained ankle suffered during indoor season and the lack of practice.

"I put most of my focus in the hurdles," said Dumas, who will attend the University of Southern Maine this fall. "I didn't practice the pole vault as much. It's hard, especially with the weather. Plus, I had no one to vault with. I was just over by myself."

When the New England meet rolled around, so did Dumas' confidence.

"I was extremely excited," she continued. "There were all these vaulters you could go high. It was my last high school meet ever. I was pretty pumped up and I had a lot of supporters. But I try not to think of things too much.

"Before my event, I think of one thing and that's it. For example, sometimes I'll think, 'I need to have better take off,' or something like that. I'll think about that part of pole vault and hope the rest will come as part of repetition."

Dumas finished her career with seven Class A championships, including four in the pole vault and three in the javelin. In the 16 possible events she could do in the state meet -- four each year -- Dumas placed in 15 of them.

"She entered a relay in her freshman year that didn't place," Cony coach Shawn Totman said. "It's incredible. To finish top-six in all those events. It's pretty incredible what she's achieved."

Although Dumas competed in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles, it was her performances in the javelin and pole vault that made her one of the state's top athletes.

"It's not come just through her hard work," Totman said. "Her parents are extremely dedicated. And (assistant coach) Taylor Harmon has taken her around the country to do clinics. She's an incredibly talented athlete, but it takes a strong support group behind her to make what she has done realized. They have put thousands and thousands of miles on car and airplane."

Throughout the year Dumas travels across the country to compete in a variety of clinics and tournaments. She's participated in the Brown Invitational in Providence, R.I., the Dartmouth Invitational in Hanover, N.H., and the 2008 National Pole Vault Summit in Reno, Nev.

Those experiences helped transform Dumas into one of the top pole vaulters in the state. This fall, she will compete on the USM track and field team, and although she isn't sure how many events she'll do, the pole vault will be one of them.

"The pole is for sure," she said. "Maybe the javelin, but we'll see."

Bill Stewart -- 623-3811, ext. 515

bstewart@centralmaine.com

11-9

Height to win pole vault in the N.E. meet

120-1

Distance to win javelin at Class A meet

4

Class A pole vault titles

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