Crestview's Zoe Kuhn breaks vault record, brother Liam makes return
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ONTARIO - Spring has finally sprung for the Kuhns.
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Senior Liam made his long-awaited return to the runway Thursday evening at the Ontario Relays after being sidelined with a nagging hamstring injury.
How'd it go? Clearing 15-0 was only three feet better than teammate, and runner-up, Drew Ramsey.
"I felt good, just some little things and mistakes like my hands were late ... I just gotta fix those little things," Liam said. "I treated this like a practice, really. I'm just working my way back and hopefully by end of the season I'll be in peak form."
Everyone is hoping to see Liam back to peak form as he chases the school record (15-10) and an elusive state title having become the first vaulter from Crestview to earn All-Ohio honors three times.
Even his younger sister Zoe, a sophomore ... whether or not she'll divulge that information remains to be seen. But after Liam warmed up and won on his own — something he has become accustomed to — he switched into coach mode helping little sis.
"She has been struggling and I've been trying to help her," he said. "I've taken her down to Buckeye (Pole Vault Academy) with me while I'm getting back, and she has been listening and picking up things very easily. She finally decided she was gonna do it today, and it's really cool because she can get so much higher."
Struggling might be an understatement as her entry height of 7-06 was the first successful vault cleared this spring.
"Tonight was the first bar she's cleared all season ... so it's definitely good to see her get her confidence back and realize that she is a good vaulter," coach, and dad, Tim Kuhn said. "Pole vaulting is 90% mental and 10% physical, I'm glad to see her get back out there and compete."
From that first clearance, you could tell Zoe was in for a special night. And having already taken top spot clearing 10-00, she did what anyone would do the first time they clear a bar at a meet — chase the school record.
With the bar raised two inches, Zoe took a deep breath and took off down the runway for her first attempt. It was unsuccessful, as was her second. But after some consultation and review with Liam, she gave it one final go and soared over the bar to etch her name into Crestview vaulting lore.
"We don't always get along — obviously — we're siblings," she said. "But he's a really good jumper and I try to listen as best I can because he knows way more than me. And even though I don't like to admit it, it's nice having that bond. I know he's always looking out for me, even when I don't want to believe it."
Zoe then went for 10-04 but missed all three attempts to cap off a long evening of vaulting.
"It's cool because it's the one place they actually, kind of, maybe halfway get along," Tim said. "She doesn't like to admit that she looks up to him ... and he doesn't like to admit he cares about how good she does. I'm just glad to finally have him back on the track and to see her competing again."
And even though she came up short Thursday night, she knows she has more in her over the next seven weeks.
"I'm pretty optimistic," Zoe said. "It's a really good height for this early in the season and I'm looking forward to growing every meet. When it comes to the end of the season, I think I'm gonna do big things ... my goal is to keep building up the school record.
"Hopefully I'll get 11-6 this year, maybe even higher. But it's just a weight off my shoulders honestly."
Big brother agrees.
"I think she can jump 12 feet this year if she just fixes a little technique," Liam said.
Several big meets to come should lead to both Kuhns continuing to reach new heights.
"I'm super excited to see what the rest of the season holds for them," Tim said.
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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Crestview's Zoe Kuhn breaks school record, Liam Kuhn makes his return