Schroeder leads Men's Track in first tri-meet

Greg Schroeder's track career could have been over very quickly. As a freshman on his high school indoor track team, Schroeder was a man without an event. He was too slow to be a sprinter, not strong enough to be a thrower, and did not particularly want to be a distance runner. He realized that if he didn't find an event soon, he would be cut from the team. The turning point came at a relay meet, when the team needed another pole vaulter. Schroeder's coach walked up to him, handed him the pole, and told him to try vaulting. "He just told me to run, plant the pole, and make it over the bar," Schroeder said. By pure chance, he had found his event. Schroeder started his pole vaulting career that day by clearing a height of eight feet. By the end of his freshman year, he was vaulting over 12 feet and qualifying for the age group championships in Spokane, Wash., where he finished 11th. Schroeder's success has continued. He is now Penn's top vaulter. The pole vault attracts a different type of athlete compared to the rest of the track events. Incredible speed and strength are not needed because what is lacking in those areas can be made up for mentally. "Greg is a good but not great athlete," assistant coach Nathan Taylor said. "His success has come through incredible determination and focus." Part of that focus is spent trying to limit the effects of the fear factor. Any event that involves soaring up to heights above 16 feet and then falling down is going to bring about some sense of danger, but the best pole vaulters are those who are not fearful. "The best way to start out is to not be afraid," Schroeder said. "Ignorance is definitely bliss." Because of the dangers involved with the event, a special type of personality is needed for the vault. Schroeder remembers a conversation he had with Penn Relays director Dr. Tim Baker when he first arrived at Penn. "Dr. Baker said that all vaulters should take a psychological examination," Schroeder said. "He said if you failed it, you should be a vaulter. If you passed, you shouldn't be allowed to vault." Schroeder arrived at Penn as a two-time New Jersey state champion. He immediately fell under the shadow of Penn all-time record holder Mamadu Johnson. He struggled his freshman year, trying to work too hard on his technique. A turning point in Schroeder's career occurred during his sophomore year, when Johnson injured himself at Princeton, ending his college career. Schroeder, realizing he was the top vaulter on the team, became more aggressive in his vaulting style. This year, Schroeder has continued his improvement, culminating in his vault of 16 feet, 5 inches last week. Schroeder was spurred on by his defeat to Greg McIntyre of La Salle the previous week, the first time he had lost to McIntyre in seven years of head-to-head competition. Schroeder believes he has found the right blend of technique and aggressiveness, which has led to his best year yet. Along with becoming a better vaulter, Schroeder has developed into a leader on the team. Taylor believes that a lot of the field event athletes look to Schroeder for leadership. "He is a great motivator and helps push us to our best performances," freshman vaulter John Linhart said. Schroeder and the rest of the Quakers will face Princeton and Yale tomorrow at Franklin Field. The battle against the Tigers will be a highly competitive meet between two of the top 20 Division I teams in the country. Schroeder has set the reasonable goals of clearing 17 feet this year and winning the Heptagonal championships. He has not only found his event, he also has become one of the best at it.