Robin Bone: Winning Prone
NEIRAD enilno edition
“I put on my helmet and chalked up my hands. Then I knew I was ready to break the record. As soon as I ran down the runway, I knew that this was going to be 'the one' and before I knew it—it was. I was so excited that my whole body was surging with excitement and I did this silly little girl scream and ran over to hug my teammate, Elizabeth!” sophomore Robin Bone said.
On February 28, 2010, Bone competed at the Eastern Junior Olympic Championships held at the Armory in New York City. With a vault at a height of 12 feet and 1 inch, Bone had set the Connecticut State record. “It's just really an amazing feeling,” Bone said.
Bone has already accomplished a lot in her two years at DHS. In just two seasons as a member of the indoor track and field team, Robin has broken eight records and is currently ranked 9th in the nation for girls’ pole vaulting. And if not for the many concussions Robin may not have ever discovered her talent for pole vaulting.
Robin is currently ranked:
• 9th in the Nation
• 1st New England
• 1st Connecticut
• 1st FCIAC
• 1st FCIAC east
After 10 years of intensive training for gymnastics, Bone’s doctor banned her from any further participation in this sport due to the overwhelming amount of head injuries she sustained. Shortly after, junior Elizabeth Crafford convinced Bone to try pole vaulting to fill up her newly given free time. “After doing strength tests and other pole-vaulting drills without the pole, I suddenly realized that pole vaulting was the closest I would be able to get to doing gymnastics again,” Bone said. After a visit to the doctor, Bone received permission to pole vault with one condition—she had to wear a helmet and mouthguard.
Up for the challenge, Bone did not let that stop her. “Personally, I love the helmet,” Bone said. She doesn’t see the helmet as a disadvantage, but actually an advantage because “sometimes when they see me pull out my 'blinged out' helmet they can’t help but stare... and they are focused on what I’m doing instead of what they are doing and that sometimes can throw a pole vaulter off,” Bone said. She represents Darien with the well known Darien “D” on her black helmet.
Gymnastics has given Bone many skills to succeed in pole vaulting. In addition to the strength she is comfortable being upside down. “In pole vaulting a huge part of the vault itself is being able to invert yourself upside down so that your feet are directly above your head,” Bone said. “Being a gymnast, I have probably spent a great deal of time upside down, so being inverted in the vault came easier to me than to others.”
Bone’s daily workout usually consists of a lap or two on the track, followed by stretching and some simple core exercises such as pushups and sit-ups. She does a series of short sprints no longer than 100 meters, and then repeats the series while holding the pole. She finishes up with vaulting drills and some weight lifting. The man behind this workout—Coach Glenn Crafford.
“Robin has the physical and mental attributes to be a great pole vaulter: speed, core strength, balance and courage,” Coach Crafford said. “It's hard to believe that, despite her success, she is really only a beginner in terms of experience…Robin has a bright future.” Coach Crafford makes a good point—Robin is only a sophomore and still has two more years to get to even higher heights.
Every athlete has their own “thing” and Bone definitely has a list of her own. Before every meet, she ALWAYS wakes up, stretches, showers and straightens her hair—“not because I want it to look good, just because it fits better under my helmet that way!” Bone said.
Robin ALWAYS has a plain bagel toasted with butter and three chocolate Munchkins on the bus ride there, Robin ALWAYS has blue Gatorades on hand and she ALWAYS listens to either “Till I Collapse” by Eminem or “Lose Yourself” by Eminem before a meet.
At such a young age, Bone has worked extremely hard and exceeded many expectations. “Robin never stops pushing herself to be the best and improves even the smallest things that she knows will help her in the end,” Elizabeth said.
Bone plans to compete at a D1 track school in the future, but she still has two years to think about where she may be attending. “For now I am just focused and having fun vaulting in high school, solely because I love the sport.” Who knows where the next two years will take her.
So far Robin has broken 8 records:
1. Wilton Field House
2. Staples Field House
3. FCIAC EAST RECORD
4. FCIAC RECORD
5. CLASS L RECORD
6. STATE OPEN RECORD
7. STATE RECORD
8. DHS School Record
In addition to being banned from gymnastics, Bone is also forbidden from playing lacrosse. A blessing in disguise—this seeming setback now gives Bone an extra season of track to succeed in the pole vaulting realm. She will be competing with the girls’ outdoor track and field team this season for the first time and is expected to soar to even higher heights.
