TOWSON, Md. – Something special occurs each time
Hayley Horvath raises her pole and trots down the runway -- slowly at first, then faster.
Reaching the pit, the Towson University freshman plants the pole, lifts herself while being coiled like a snake near the end of the perilously bent shaft. As the pole straightens, Horvath rises upward as if she were riding the tidal wave of sound, flies across the bar and into Towson history before falling to a cushioned pad 13-feet below.
"When you're falling down, you're weightless," said Horvath, who is excited to represent Towson on one of the biggest stages in college athletics at the 2019 NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships East Preliminary in Jacksonville.
Horvath, who is the first Towson pole vaulter in program history to participate in the NCAA East Prelims, begins competition at Hodges Stadium on the campus of the University of North Florida on Friday at 5 p.m.
"My goal coming into the season was to make it to regionals," Horvath said. "I knew based on what I jumped last year (in high school), my mark would've made it. So I am glad I was able to jump that again and qualify for regionals. I am happy with how this season has progressed and I think I've done pretty well in every meet that I've been in and hopefully I can keep the momentum going."
That's Horvath being modest when mentioning she's "done pretty well." Of course, that's like Steph Curry saying he did OK after averaging 36.5 points for the Golden State Warriors during their recent four-game sweep of the Portland Trailblazers in the NBA Western Conference Finals.
Horvath's scintillating performances this season has mesmerized masses.
Combining sprint speed, upper-body strength and gymnastic body control, Horvath is tied for 23rd in the East heading into the championships. Horvath is the school record holder in the pole vault, setting the mark of 4.10 meters (13-5.25) in winning a gold medal at the CAA Championships earlier this month.
Horvath was named CAA Field Athlete of the Week on April 2 and 9. She also won the pole vault at the Penn Relays, Morgan State Legacy Meet, Towson Invitational and Maryland Invitational. Her consistency and athleticism has led to Horvath clearing 13 feet four times this outdoor season.
It took some time before Horvath found her groove as an elite pole vaulter.
"I quit gymnastics and my mom was like you need to do something with your life other than sit on the couch everyday," said Horvath laughing at the memory. "So, I went out for track and I didn't like running. I figured pole vaulting wasn't too much running, but it was enough to keep me in shape."
She remembers the first time she pole vaulted in high school like it just happened. Horvath was a sophomore.
"It was a bad experience," Horvath said. "The opening height was six feet and I know I didn't clear that. I wasn't expecting to clear that because I only had like two days of practice before so it wasn't a big deal. I never imagined that the pole vault would take off the way it has. I am pretty happy that it did. It's wild when I think about it."
Horvath, who is humble, loves having fun and enjoys listening to country music, has aspirations of becoming a scrub nurse one day. Horvath is majoring in pre-nursing.
That's the future.
Her present involves preparing for her first NCAA East Region Prelims.
"I am just happy that I get to go out and represent Towson again at another meet," Horvath said. "It's nice being a part of the Towson track and field team and progressing positively with the program. We are a family. I like that. I also like how everyone here supports your academic and athletic goals."
