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May 5, 2009 - 6:15 PM
Mark Altstaetter
http://varsity.limaohio.com/articles/soari...ge-heights.html


CINCINNATI - University of Cincinnati pole vaulter Shane Shockey (Bluffton) has raised the bar on his skill level - higher than 17 feet, in fact.

Shockey, a former two-time state champion from Bluffton, is now near the top of the list at UC as one of the all-time school's greats in the pole vault.

After posting a personal-best 17 foot, 1 inch vault last season, Shockey has nearly eclipsed that mark already, by clearing 17 feet, three-quarters inch at the Drake Relays this spring.

This past weekend, Shockey finished second for the second year in a row at the Big East Championships with a vault of 16-10 3/4. Last spring, Shockey was runner-up with a clearance of 16-2 3/4.

Shockey, a sophomore, suffered a shoulder injury three years ago, forcing him to be red-shirted his freshman year for both the indoor and outdoor track seasons.

Now, in his second full season at UC, Shockey's hard work is paying off.

"My first year, I didn't do much because I was hurt," Shockey said. "Last year, it was more of an eye-opener. Watching these guys clear some of these heights, made me realize what I needed to do."

Shockey said his training regimen at the college level is different than what he was accustomed to during his high school days. He said the bulk of his training happens earlier in the year.

"We do a lot more in the fall," Shockey said. "In the spring, we only vault twice a week ... Mondays and Wednesdays."

Shockey said he does miss the battles he encountered at the state meets when he was in high school. However, he said the level of competition at the Division I level in college is something special.

"I miss (high school competition)," he said. "But, in college, every meet is like a state meet."

Right now, Shockey has his sights set high.

"It will probably take 17-4, 17-6 (to make it to nationals)," Shockey said. "I would definitely like to do 18 (feet) someday."

HOUCHIN A HIT AT CSU: Cleveland State University senior Amanda Houchin (Bath) is fifth on the women's softball team in hitting, boasting a .328 batting average, along with a .563 slugging percentage.

CSU is 31-15 on the season.

MARSHALL EXCELS AT NORTHWESTERN: Northwestern College senior Zach Marshall (Elida) recently broke a 22-year-old school record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, clocking a time of 9:50.88.

Northwestern College is an NCAA Division III school located in St. Paul, Minnesota.

AMSTUTZ LEADING POLAR BEARS: Ohio Northern University junior Joe Amstutz (Bluffton) finished second in the 400-meter dash (48.80) in the Ohio Athletic Conference track and field meet at Wilmington College, earning All-OAC honors.

STECHSCHULTE A STEP ABOVE COMPETITION: Ohio Northern University sophomore Aubrie Stechschulte (Columbus Grove) is one of the top pole vaulters on the women's track and field team this spring.

Earlier this spring, at the Anderson (Ind.) Outdoor Invitational, Stechschulte led the Polar Bears with a first-place finish with a winning vault of 11-9.75.