Bella Vista's Sean McAllister is ready to challenge for a Sac-Joaquin Section pole vault title. A two-sport spring standout, McAllister recently took second in the section diving championships. Neighbors/Andy Alfaro

Fearless Leaper

Bella Vista's McAllister excels in diving, pole vault

By Robert S. Johnson -- Neighbors Staff Writer
Published 2:15 a.m. PDT Sunday, May 12, 2002

One minute he might be sprinting down a runway while holding a pole. The next minute he could be springing from a diving board while twisting and flipping before splashing smoothly into the water.

Sean McAllister may be the rarest two-sport athlete in the area, and he excels in both disciplines.

The Bella Vista High School senior pole vaulter and diver recently placed second in the Sac-Joaquin Section diving championships with a 450.5 overall score. His next goal is to qualify for the section championship meet in the pole vault after clearing the bar at 14 feet in the Capital Athletic League championship meet.

McAllister didn't get a chance to go higher Thursday or win a first-place medal because of darkness.

"The conditions were very unsafe and all of the top vaulters were in danger of getting hurt, so we called off the boys pole vault," said Bella Vista pole vault coach Clay Taft.

The subsection trials are scheduled Wednesday and the finals Friday. Last year, McAllister competed in the subsections but failed to qualify for the section meet.

"He's got the potential to go 15-9 in the next two weeks," Taft said. "He's got the fundamental mechanics to do it."

If McAllister can reach that lofty height, it would make him a contender for the state championship.

Defending champion Mike Landers of Golden Valley of Modesto reached 16-3 last season and is one of four Californians to clear 15-6 this season, according to the Dye Stat Elite national high school rankings. David Murphy from Arroyo Grande is the state leader with a 16-0 mark set at the Stanford Invitational in late March.

McAllister's background makes him a natural for pole vaulting and diving. For nine years, beginning at age 3, he was a gymnast. He said that sport helped him gain the body awareness necessary to become successful in the two events.

"After gymnastics I just had that hidden talent for acrobatic kind of stuff," he said. "I think diving helped out my pole vaulting more than my pole vaulting helped out with my diving. The pole vault got me more in touch with my body, doing flips and things like that."

Section diving champion Andrew Skewes of Christian Brothers noticed the advantage McAllister enjoyed from having been an accomplished gymnast.

"When he came to diving, it took him about a month to do everything I worked at for four years," said Skewes, a three-time All-America qualifier. "It was kind of unfair."

McAllister's entrance into diving came almost by accident. He took his sisters to diving practice in Rio Linda last July when his parents were out of town. McAllister sat by the pool sweating in the intense heat.

Eventually he got so hot that he asked his sisters' diving coach, Dede Crayne, if he could take a dip. She said yes, and she was amazed at his form and strength when he took his impromptu splash. She quickly persuaded McAllister to give the sport a try.

"The kid is so naturally talented. No mater what you asked him to do, he did it in a snap," Crayne said. "Nick Lee (the former Jesuit diver who now competes at Princeton) was almost that naturally talented. (Sean) was an absolute pleasure to work with."

Said McAllister nonchalantly: "I was just bored in the summer, so I figured I'd try diving."

His athletic choices have vaulted McAllister to another level as an athlete and may be enough for him to change course when it comes to competing in college.

He had planned to walk on to the diving team at the University of Utah. Now, McAllister likely will try out for the track team.

McAllister is encouraged by track because of his rapid succession of better vaults. He went from a routine 13-0 last year to a 13-6. Now with a personal best of 14-6, he has easily cleared the school record of 14-8 in practice.

"He's pretty new (to the sport), but he's done gymnastics, so he had a natural edge," said Dan Guidera, Del Campo junior vaulter and distance runner. "He's real fluid. It just comes natural to him. They have the all-weather track, new poles, all the top stuff and a great coach. That helps you be pretty good."

McAllister's offseason workouts have helped him excel. He grew about an inch to 5-foot-10 during summer, but added 20 pounds to his frame to bulk up to 170.

"I'm stronger and faster since last year, and all of a sudden I was jumping a lot higher than I thought I would have," McAllister said.

McAllister said he hopes a strong effort at the state championship meet in the pole vault might garner a few extra looks and perhaps a scholarship offer or two, but diving in college still may be his best meal ticket.

It helped that his score at the section championship was high enough to qualify for All-America status. Divers must achieve a minimum score of 390 to qualify for the honor.

"I'd still like to go to Utah, but I'm going to listen to anyone who will give me a chance (to compete)," he said. "I've been contacting schools to find out what they are looking for in a freshman pole vaulter. It really depends on section and state, and how I do there whether I will get any looks. I'm trying to leave all my options open."

Pole position

* The rundown: Senior Sean McAllister is a diver and pole vaulter for Bella Vista High School. He recently placed second in the Sac-Joaquin Section diving finals with a mark of 450.5. He is among the area leaders in the pole vault with a best of 14-6.

* Quote: "After gymnastics I just had that hidden talent for acrobatic kind of stuff. I think diving helped out my pole vaulting more than my pole vaulting helped out with my diving. The pole vault got me more in touch with my body, doing flips and things like that." -- Sean McAllister.

* Future plans: McAllister may walk on at the University of Utah in the fall, likely as a pole vaulter. "I'd still like to go to Utah, but I'm going to listen to anyone who will give me a chance (to compete)."

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