CANYON, Texas (KFDA) - Canyon High School pole vaulter Hadley Johnson signed to compete for West Texas A&M on signing day.
Johnson has been a key part of Canyon’s track and field program. She is a state qualifier in the pole vault and also competes in the high jump.
Johnson said West Texas A&M was the right fit because of the program’s success and the major she wants to pursue.
“I picked WT for one. They have a great track program,” Johnson said. “The community there is just great. Their coaching staff is really good and they also have a great Ag (Agriculture Business) program.”
West Texas A&M is the number one-ranked Division II girls track program in the country.
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Overcoming injury
Canyon head coach Ray Baca praised Johnson as one of the most versatile athletes in the program’s history.
“Hadley is probably the most versatile track athlete we’ve had since I’ve been at Canyon,” Baca said. “She has been a regional qualifier in the sprints, in the hurdles, relays. Obviously, she’s one of the best pole vaulters in the state of Texas. She’s been a district champion in high jump. She’s just been all around really, really good for us.”
Johnson tore her ACL at the end of her freshman year and only played a handful of meets her sophomore year.
“Most people would have quit or said, I’m not going to do everything it takes to come back,” Baca said. “Everything that she needed to do in rehab made her a better athlete.”
He also thanked Coach Lott, Johnson’s pole vault coach, who started working with her in junior high.
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“He’s just pretty much stuck with her, and he’s taken her to places that we’re not even capable of here,” the coach said.
Six years of pole vaulting
Johnson has been pole vaulting for six years.
“A lot of it is a lot of muscle, trying to muscle your way up the bar and over,” Johnson said. “And competing at the next level is great, just being able to move on.”
Johnson said the physical demands of pole vaulting have applied to other parts of her life.
“Just trying to keep with school and all the stuff, and also doing running events, being able to do all that stuff, too,” she said.
Johnson credited her coaches and support system for helping her reach this point.
“I definitely couldn’t do it without all my coaches, especially the ones that have stayed the long hours helping when they don’t have to and Coach Baca letting me leave and go to them and all my parents and friends that supported me through it all,” she said. “I just appreciate all the support that they’ve given me throughout all the years.”
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