Indiana University Athletics
Batemon Riding Momentum into NCAA Championships
6/9/2015 10:22:00 AM | Track and Field
Big Ten Champion has eyes set on NCAA Championships this week.
NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
June 10-13 • Eugene, Ore.
NCAA Championships Central Page
By Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
It all started clicking in Champaign, Ill.
Terry Batemon was struggling by his standards. The redshirt junior was looking for consistency in his jumps but wasn't finding any at the weekend meet that took place April 18.
But at the end of the day when he looked up at the scoreboard, he was fourth in what he considered a strong field. Even when he was struggling, he was near the top of the leaderboard, clearing 5.19 meters.
"That Illinois meet wasn't the best, but everything changed because I saw I was able to still clear (5.19 meters) with a bad jump," Batemon said. "That kind of showed me, `Hey, you can do this any day--good or bad."
That's when the momentum started building, Batemon said. Since then, the good days have outnumbered the bad as he's gone on to win the Big Ten Championship title and qualify for this week's NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Batemon will compete against the best in the nation at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ore., on June 10.
Batemon said his confidence has grown with each passing meet since finishing fourth at Illinois.
His season best was set at the Big Ten Championships where he cleared 5.36 meters to help IU win its seventh Big Ten pole vaulting title in the last eight years.
Batemon continued to build on his conference title at the NCAA prelims where he cleared 5.18 meters. He said he could have jumped even higher had he not been stopped once he qualified for the NCAA's.
"Honestly, it's just all this momentum. It's all coming to me at the right time," Batemon said. "I feel really good right now, probably as good as ever. I just need to keep it going."
Batemon said he doesn't take being in a position to compete for a national championship for granted after being unable to compete at all last spring.
He let out a sigh as he recounted his two hamstring injuries that forced him to redshirt the 2014 outdoor season. During that time, he had to sit on the sidelines while his teammates practiced.
He said it was frustrating because he knew he could be out there scoring points for his teammates, but he tried to stay upbeat throughout the recovery process because he felt 2015 could be a special year.
"Honestly, I can just say it was a minor setback for a major comeback," Batemon said. "You just have to stay calm and relaxed and know that next year is going to be perfectly fine. That was my main thing this year was to stay healthy, and I knew I'd have a great season."
Batemon's premonition was right, but he's not going to stop there.
He said he wants to continue to build on Indiana pole vaulting's already rich history. Adding an NCAA medal or another All-American to the running list of Indiana recognitions would further prove the recovery process was worth it.
While he's focused on the task at hand, Batemon can't stop himself from already looking ahead to another two seasons.
Having already qualified for the NCAA's in just his second year after suffering a significant injury, Batemon said there's reason to believe this year's NCAA Finals could be the start of something special in Bloomington for he and the other Hoosiers competing in the pole vault.
Like Batemon said, it's all about building momentum.
"I have a chance to really make a statement," Batemon said. "That's what my goal is. I want to show that Indiana really is a great program. We have great coaches and we have great athletes. I believe that what we do now this postseason is going to make a difference, and that's exciting for all of us."
