Winder-Barrow High School’s Rogers will compete in the Class AAAA pole vault beginning Thursday at noon while Apalachee’s Whitley will take part in the high jump competition at 2:30 p.m., also Thursday.
Whitley won the 8-AAAA championship in the high jump with a mark of 6-6 for coach David Wagner. Whitley, a senior, is competing for the first time this spring, His mark of 6-6 ties his own school record.
“Dennis is a great leaper and has surpassed any expectations I had for him at the beginning of the season,” Wagner said. “ From what I have seen from around the state in AAAA, he has a real good chance of making it into the final eight and scoring points.He just needs to relax, go out there and do what he does The rest will take care of itself.”
Rogers finished second in the pole vault and is another in a long history of WBHS athletes to qualify for state in the event. Rogers, a senior, won region a year ago but finished as runner-up this spring.
Rogers was also four at state in 2008 with a jump of 12-6.
“He is hoping to better that mark in Jefferson this year,” said WBHS track coach Jennifer Blevins. “Casey has been working with coach Isaiah Berry to fine tune his form.”
In addition, Blevins said Rogers has been doing speed work to help insure he moves down the runway quicker.
“This speed will force more propulsion into his flight phase, make it easier for him to get the pole vertical and boost him to the high heights,” Blevins said. “Staying cool under the pressure, visualizing the jumps and being on top of his game on Thursday should hopefully get Casey another trip to the podium.”
WBHS boys track coach Sam Stovall is also looking forward to Rogers competing this week in Jefferson.
“Casey has experience at the state meet which will give him an advantage,” Stovall said. “He has worked hard this season and should reach his peak at the state meet. Coach Berry has Casey ready to vault 13-plus but he’ll have to do it at state. He is more than capable of vaulting much higher if the conditions are right.”
