Patrick Henry’s Lizzie Powell named T-D’s top outdoor track athlete

Patrick Henry pole vaulter Lizzie Powell geared her efforts to clearing 12 feet during the indoor track season.

She didn't get there. Three straight weeks of meets -- Colonial District, Central Region and Group AAA state meet -- Powell topped out at 11-6. That height was good enough for first in the district meet and second to rival Emma DeJarnette of Atlee (who cleared 12-0) in the region and state meets.

Never deterred, Powell, a rising senior, set 13 feet as her goal for the outdoor season.

"The competition is between me and the crossbar, being the best I can and reaching goals," Powell said.

She didn't get to 13 feet either, but no matter, what she accomplished in April and May is why Powell is The Times-Dispatch girls outdoor track athlete of the year.

Her PR occurred in a tri-meet with Douglas Freeman and Mills Godwin. She flew over the bar at a state best 12-6. Powell established a Central Region meet record with a 12-1 vault. The previous record-holder (12-0) just happened to be older sister Annie.

"I was thrilled. It was fun to know I'd broken my sister's record," Powell said. "She was happy for me. She told me if anybody was going to break the record, she wanted it to be me."

A week later, in a duel with DeJarnette, both vaulted 12-1 at the Group AAA meet in Newport News and surpassed the state mark. Powell then cleared 12-3 to set a record and win the title.

She said then, "I've always wanted to win states, and it finally happened. I've worked hard for it."

The goal of going over 13 feet remained with two national meets on her summer schedule.

"I was so pumped and ready for them," Powell said.

She didn't participate in either meet.

One of the happiest times in her life vanished with a doctor's diagnosis less than a week after her state triumph. She was told she had cancer on her 17th birthday.

When Powell went to the St. Mary's Hospital emergency room with her father, a doctor, "I didn't understand what was going on," she said. "I asked my mom if I had cancer. It was one of the scariest things I've ever had in my life. I didn't know what type I had, and if I would survive. I was thinking the worst possible."

Powell has Hodgkin's disease, a cancer of the lymph system. It's most common among teenagers and adults 15 to 35 years old.

"I was told it was very curable, and I thought 'God has a plan for me. It's just another hurdle [she also is a very good hurdler] to jump over.' I'll be strong, and I'll get through it."

She has had surgery and is in the middle of four cycles of chemotherapy. She has visited fellow pole vaulters at practice, and she's spent family time on the Outer Banks.

Her parents are with her at the chemo sessions. When she was in the hospital recently, Powell received a telephone call from Jennifer Stuczynski and her coach. Stuczynski is the U.S. record holder and the silver medalist at the Beijing Olympics.

"I wish you could have seen her face," Powell's mother Pat reported via email. "It was the first real smile in a couple of weeks. They chatted for about 20 minutes. They talked about [Lizzie's] illness and went on to 'shop" talk. They ended by telling her they wanted to send her a plane ticket and fly her to their training facility in New York for a week to train with them. [Lizzie] was walking on air."

If everything stays on track, Powell will complete treatments right before school starts in September. Her support system of family, friends and well-wishers is huge.

"They see me living a normal life. They see me as an inspiration. Knowing they are supporting me every step means a lot to me."

Contact Arthur Utley at (804) 649-6559 or .