Onward and upward
Broadneck state champion pole vaulter Carson Boteler is Capital Gazette girls indoor track and field Athlete of Year
Carson Boteler competed in gymnastics for eight years. But a stress fracture in her back forced her to retire from the sport prior to her sophomore year at Broadneck.
Not the type to sit home doing nothing, Boteler began a quest to find a new sport. She settled on track and field because older sister, Chloe, and best friend, Avery Smith, were both members of the team.
“When we found out Carson had been a competitive gymnast we quickly decided the pole vault would best fit her skill set,” Broadneck coach Josh Webster said. “It was a match made in heaven right off the bat. Carson was excited about learning the pole vault and really committed to the event right away.”
Boteler was indeed a natural and developed so rapidly, she placed second at the Class 4A outdoor state championship meet, clearing 10 feet and losing by a tiebreaker.
It has literally been onward and upward ever since with Boteler becoming one of the top pole vaulters in Maryland.
Boteler reached new heights during the 2023-24 indoor track and field season, capturing the Class 4A state championship with a vault of 11 feet, 9 inches. That was both a Broadneck High and indoor state meet record.
Boteler, who was also the Anne Arundel County and Class 4A Central Region champ, is the Capital Gazette indoor track and field girls Athlete of the Year.
“Carson is very self motivated, studies her craft and puts time into learning about it,” Webster said. “She is a game day type of kid who is just fearless when it’s time to compete.”
Boteler agreed with that assessment and said she is “motivated and challenged” by competition. That was evident at the state championship meet at Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex as Boteler psyched out her top rivals by announcing to officials she would begin vaulting once the bar was set at 10-9.
Boteler easily cleared that height on her first attempt then promptly converted at 11-3 on her first attempt as well. Gabriela Umpierre and Brunell Owusu of Thomas Johnson both matched that 11-3 mark, but not without some misses.
“It was like a drop the mic moment when Carson came in at 10-9 and made it look easy,” Webster said.
Boteler would have won at a height of 11-3 based on misses, but did not hesitate in going for a personal record.Therewasanintensefeeling of elation and satisfaction as she hit the landing mat after clearing 11-9 on her first attempt.
“It was the most exciting moment of my athletic career to PR at states. It was just so cool and awesome to have it all come together on such a big stage,” Boteler said.
Boteler remembers being introduced to the pole vault as a sophomore and discovering that her gymnastics training translated well to the event.
She finished fourth at the indoor state meet that first season and was hooked.
“It did not take long until I realized that pole vaulting was my new passion,” she said. “Having a gymnastics background definitely helped a lot because there was no fear. I’ve flipped over a four-inch beam, a vault and uneven bars. A lot of the same skills and motions are required.”
Boteler broke through during indoor season her junior year — sweeping the county, region and state titles. She duplicated that feat during the 2023 outdoor season and is well on the way to a repeat performance as a senior.
“It’s really unreal to think about what I’ve been able to accomplish. I think that is so awesome because it’s something I never expected,” Boteler said.
Boteler feels fortunate to have learned the techniques and fundamentals of pole vaulting from Broadneck assistant Britini Shawen, who competed in the event at Severna Park and Wesley College. Shawen, who was a state runner-up, knew her new protege could succeed because so many outstanding vaulters had been former gymnasts.
“In many respects it’s like doing gymnastics with a pole in your hand,” she said. “It’s been really exciting to see the progression Carson has made. She is very dedicated and has a strong desire to push the limits and improve.”
Boteler has complete faith and trust in Shawen and did not question the coach’s wisdom when asked to switch from a five step to a seven step approach. Shawen carefully monitors the vaulter’s development and decides when a longer pole is necessary.
“Coach Shawen has been amazing and I couldn’t imagine doing it without her,” Boteler said. “She has helped me through the frustrating times and is a coach who really understands me. I can lean on her as both a friend and mentor.”
Boteler attended a pole vaulting camp held at the Naval Academy last summer and learned a lot about the physics of the event. There is a tremendous amount of technique that must be repeated each time in order to clear the bar.
“You have to be consistent with the run-up as far as getting your steps right. You also need to hit your mark and have a strong takeoff because that sets you up for a good vault,” she said.
Boteler will continue her track and field career at Coastal Carolina as a preferred walk and hopes to eventually earn a scholarship through performance. She is determined to become a 13-foot vaulter.
“I think that’s a realistic goal and I know I can do it as long as I fix the top half of my vault,” Boteler said. “I definitely need to get upside down faster and turn quicker.
Coach of the Year Josh Webster
Broadneck
Broadneck captured the Anne Arundel County championship in convincing fashion by scoring 108 points, 21 better than runner-up Severna Park. Casey Gish singlehandedly scored 30 points by winning the high jump, triple jump and long jump. The Bruins scored a whopping 89 points in the field events with Boteler leading a sweep in the pole vault and Gish doing the same in the high and triple jumps.
“Every season presents a different challenge when putting together a championship team and this year we had to rely heavily on our field event athletes,” Webster said. “We have built a program that athletes want to be a part of and encourage their friends to join. It is supported and lauded by parents for its positive culture and builds memories for our athletes in a family like atmosphere.”
All-County First Team Rebecca Burgee
Southern, Junior
Burgee claimed the Anne Arundel County championship in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:21.14, more than seven seconds better than the second place finisher. Burgee was runner-up in the 800 and took third in the 500 at the Class 2A state meet. She also ran the leadoff leg of Southern’s state championship 4×800 relay and the anchor leg of the runner-up 4×400 relay.
Jalaia Creary Spalding, Senior
Creary was the top challenger to McDonough superstar sprinter Elise Cooper, finishing as runner-up in both the 55- and 300-meter dash at the IAAM Championships. She posted a personal record of 7.13 seconds in the 55 and 40.57 in the 300. Creary won the 300 at the Private Schools Invitational with a season-best time of 40.44.
Jocelyn DiAngelo Severna Park, Sophomore
DiAngelo captured the Anne Arundel County and Class 3A Central Region championships in the 3,200-meter run. She placed fourth at the state meet with a personal record time of 11:14.25. She previously improved by almost 13 seconds between the county (11:40.22) and region (11:27.74) meets.
Anne Arundel County and Class 3A Central champion in the shot put. Captured the county title with a throw of 34-9 ½, which was more than two feet better than the runner-up. Placed fifth in the state with a personal record distance of 34-10 ½.
Isabelle Franklin Meade, Junior
Franklin captured the Anne Arundel County championship in the 500-meter run with a time of 1 minute, 20.27 seconds. She was the Class 4A Central Region runner-up with a personal-record time of 1:19.06 then placed third at the state meet (1:19.82).
Casey Gish Broadneck, Senior
Gish enjoyed a tremendous indoor season by sweeping the Anne Arundel County, Central Region and Class 4A state championships. She won a four-way tie at the state meet based on fewest misses. Gish, who posted a personal-record high jump of 5-6 during the regular season, was also the Anne Arundel County champ in the long and triple jumps.
Ava Zimmerman Severna Park, Junior
Zimmerman secured the Central Region championship in the 800 and ran the lead leg of two championship relays (4×400, 4×800). Zimmerman closed the indoor campaign by placing third in the 800 at the Class 3A state meet with a personal record time of 2:20.17.
Janayis Mendoza Meade, Senior
Mendoza was the Anne Arundel County champion in the 55-meter dash and runner-up in the 300. She also ran a leg of Meade’s second place 4×200 relay. She finished fourth in the 300 at the Class 4A Central Region meet with a personal record time of 41.20.
Chayse Mitchell Spalding, Sophomore
Mitchell accomplished an impressive individual feat by sweeping the three jumping events at the IAAM Championships. She won the high jump at a personal record height of 5-2 and easily out-distanced the second place finisher in both the long (18-10 ¼) and triple (36-5 ¾) jumps.
Second Team
Jaslyn Bangoura, Meade, Sophomore
Laila Carpenter, Crofton, Junior
Dana Doubek, Broadneck, Freshman
Grace Hickman, Arundel, Senior
Marisa Mock, Spalding, Sophomore
Kathryn Murphy, Severna Park, Sophomore
Marley Shaw, Southern, Sophomore
Athena Stiff, Spalding, Senior