KADE AND KRISTIN WATSON

ANTLERS HIGH SCHOOL

Normally this time of year Antlers junior Kade Watson would be thinking about the upcoming football season. But this year he has decided to focus on next spring and pole vaulting. Kade and his sister Kristin have followed in the footsteps of their father (and track coach) Ken Watson who also pole vaulted in high school. And despite not having a local place to practice their trade, both the Watsons qualified for the state track meet last spring. A good part of that has to do with a guy named Robert McDonald who has an indoor pole vault facility in nearby Coleman. McDonald pole vaulted in high school along with Joe Dial who was a pioneer in the sport in Oklahoma. Kade finished fourth at state last year while Kristen, who graduated this past spring and had just one year of pole vaulting experience, still managed to finish ninth at state. And add to that sophomore Adlee Hicks, also from Antlers, who finished sixth at state.

“I was running hurdles in middle school when I went to a high school meet in Atoka and saw them pole vaulting and said “that looks cool. I’d like to try that,” said Kade.

Kristin also got her start on the track side of track and field.

“I used to run hurdles but found I didn’t like running very much and so I became the track team manager. Then Robert got me involved in pole vaulting and I’d been watching Kade do it and it looked like fun and so I tried it and loved it,” said Kristin.

Being both coach and dad can be challenging but the elder Watson says that having McDonald around to help with the coaching part has been a big help.

“Sometimes having both roles have been a challenge because I like being the dad better than the coach so having Robert in my corner has helped take away some of that load. The kids are pretty competitive, and Robert just egged them on,” laughed coach/dad.

Three kids from the same small town finishing in the top 10 at state says a lot about the coaching of Watson and McDonald.