UD’s Rick Valcin, 2014 NCAA Pole Vault National Champion to Compete in Mexico
Nov 24, 2014
VERACRUZ, Mexico – University of Dubuque senior pole vaulter, Rick Valcin, will represent his native country of St. Lucia as he competes in the Central American and Caribbean Games (CACG) sponsored by the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organization (CACSO) this Friday, November 28th at 8:30 a.m. central time.
Valcin will compete in Veracruz, Mexico located about four-and-a-half hours east of Mexico City, Mexico. It will be his first appearance at the CACG and will feature the best competition Valcin has faced since the 2014 Commonwealth Games this past summer in Glasgow, Scotland.
“Last track season, I vaulted against Olympians at the Commonwealth Games and the CACG will be my biggest meet since that time”, said Valcin.
It will be a unique opportunity for Valcin at a meet that occurs every four years and features athletes from Central America and South America competing in over 30 different sporting events. Valcin is ready for an early test to kick off the 2015 track season.
“Practice has been going really well and I’ve been impressed early on after jumping higher in practice than I did at this time last year. I have a favorable seed going in and I’m confident I can set a PR (personal record) if everything goes well and the weather holds up.”
Valcin will look to eclipse his current PR of 5.20 meters (17’0.75”) he set at the St. Lucia National Championships. The multi-purpose athlete and 2014 Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) pole vault champion also excels on the track after winning the 100 meters and finishing third in the 200 meters at the 2014 IIAC Outdoor Championships. Valcin will face a plethora of world-class athletes, including 2011 World Outdoor silver medalist Lazaro Borges from Cuba, and looks forward to the challenge.
“It will be a good test to see where I’m at, especially with most of my other competitors also beginning their seasons.”
Watch Valcin LIVE on November 28th at 8:30 a.m. central time | Official CACG website
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For further information, please contact sports information at 563.589.3168.
