As junior pole vaulter Daniel Imlach trained for the Husky Classic in Seattle, he doesn’t do much actual pole vaulting. Instead, he runs sprints, finds which size pole vault to use, and does cone drills to improve timing and technique.

“The small things are what I try to motivate them with — it’s really easy to be excited about jumping, but actual vaulting in practice is minimal,” said Terry Van Laningham, pole vault coach and director of championships and recruiting coordinator.

Imlach broke his own school record, giving him an NCAA provisional mark in the pole-vault. His mark is 12th in the country and the best in the Big Sky Conference this year. The Hornets have already set six new school records and earned 21 qualifying marks for the Big Sky Championships this season. “This is our best start in my four years here,” said Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Kathleen Raske. “On paper we are one of the best squads in Division I.” Coach Raske’s philosophy is to put the team before individual statistics.

“We are a close team, we want to see each other succeed,” Imlach said.

Imlach’s best friend on the team, senior thrower David Nichols, knows all about success.

Nichols has been an all-American two seasons in a row, and has won three Big Sky Championships in the shot put.

Nichols and Imlach are both from Redding, Calif. Nichols attended Enterprise High and Imlach went to West Valley High. Both graduated in 2003.

The two knew each other, but they did not become best friends until about a year ago. “Us being down here coming from the north state, you know that not many athletes make it in college after high school. I think that and our love for track is what brings us as close as we are,” Imlach said.

It isn’t a fluke the two are so good. They cheer each other on at meets and constantly push one another to be the best they can.

“Dan is probably mad at me because I’m hurt right now,” Nichols said, referring to a weightlifting injury that has him sidelined. “It feels good when we can watch each other compete.”

Both athletes have high aspirations to make the Olympics. The two have been roommates in the past and both have girlfriends on the rowing team.

Nicholas said the two of them are attached at the hip. They room on the road together, do dinner, and go with their girlfriends to a beginning ballroom dancing class.

When it comes to track, Imlach credits Nichols and his fellow pole-vaulters for much of his success.

“I couldn’t train without those guys,” Imlach said. “We are usually the first ones here and the last to leave.”

Sac State’s success in the past few years has come from a revamped program that emphasizes the importance of leadership, responsibility and trust from fellow teammates.

“We are rewriting the record books,” Raske said. “Our saying is the legacy starts here. Everyone is always at their best and doing their best.”

To maintain good team chemistry, there are weekly meetings. Functions are held in the fall, and the team lifts weights together. Athletes train independently, but compete collectively and have an interest in other people’s areas of expertise.

That includes academics. The team goal is to have a 3.0 GPA. If certain grade criterion isn’t met, eight hours of study hall is required.

“Coach will probably get mad at me for saying this, and I’m serious about school, but overall I care about my athletic performance more,” Imlach said.

Imlach’s success has come through hard work and dedication. His motivation comes from his grandparents and his high school track coach, Scott Fairly.

“My grandparents raised me all my life,” Imlach said. “I feel I have to do something for them.”

In his senior year of high school, Imlach hurt his knee playing basketball in Yreka, Calif. He was faced with the obstacle of knee surgery, which many athletes never come back from the same.

“Coming back from that injury has been one of my biggest challenges,” Imlach said. “I tore both my meniscus and ACL, it took me about three months to get back competing. My ACL is still torn.”

His work ethic is reflected in his teammates’ attitude to improve not only themselves, but also the group as a whole.

“Dan is a great training partner,” said Matt Gilbert, sophomore pole-vaulter.

At practice, it’s all business. There might be an occasional joke, but the focus is on one thing — to continually improve and strive for excellence.

“Dan is naturally gifted. You feel like you have more potential in yourself training with him,” said Charles Nichols, freshman pole vaulter.

Pole vaulters train for 10 months a year, and only get to compete about a dozen times. Without rigid training, it is hard to stay sharp and be successful. Training involves a lot of movement, weight training and increased body awareness.

“He naturally pushes us. We just try to keep up with him,” said Jimmy Williamson, sophomore pole vaulter.

The wear and tear of continuous training for any athlete can be rough on the body.

“Some days you’re sore and don’t want to get out of bed, but you have to make yourself,” Imlach said.

In Imlach’s free time, he watches Prison Break and Nip/Tuck. His favorite sport to watch is college basketball — specifically March Madness.

That aside, there are 75 athletes on the track and field and cross country team. There are only four paid coaches. That leaves a lot of training that athletes must do on their own.

“We are spread thin,” Raske said. “We have to rely on volunteers. We have 20 sports on the team, six of which I coach. We manage to do a really good job within each event group.”

The coaches expect to see even more out of Imlach and the rest of the team as well, especially when the outdoor season gets here. The goal is for a top three finish in the Big Sky and possibly more.

The Hornets’ high performance level continues to rise with each meet.

“My goal is to clear 18 feet this year,” Imlach said. If things continue to go as they have, that goal will be eclipsed very soon.

Coach Van Laningham believes that Nichols, Imlach and others have a good chance to one day become Olympians.

“This group has the work ethic. I think they are just realizing how good they can actually be. It’s still too early to tell because athletes in this sport don’t reach their prime until their late 20s,” he said. Galen Kusic can be reached at [email protected]