Kristin Slaughter Headed to the U of I for Track

(SEATED, LEFT TO RIGHT: KRISTIN'S SISTER KATHERINE SLAUGHTER, MOM JILL SLAUGHTER, KRISTIN SLAUGHTER, AND DAD MIKE SLAUGHTER; STANDING, LEFT TO RIGHT: ST. ANTHONY ATHLETIC DIRECTOR KEVIN PALMER AND ST. ANTHONY GIRLS TRACK COACH RANDY BLAKE)

She's the defending Class 1A state champion pole vaulter, but Kristin Slaughter is ready to compete for quite a while longer.

That was evidenced by her decision to commit to the University of Illinois to compete in college track and field. The formal ceremony was held Thursday afternoon at St. Anthony High School.

Kristin, the daughter of Mike and Jill Slaughter, said she began her track career in junior high, although she has run with her dad since she was little. She said she was challenged by teammates to try the pole vault and admitted, "I was pretty bad at it." That soon changed, culminating with the state championship last spring at O'Brien Stadium in Charleston.

Kristin admitted that the pole vault is a "very technical sport" and acknowledged that the weather, especially the wind, can have a significant impact on the results. She really enjoys competing in track, appreciating that even though everyone has their own events, everyone on the squad encourages the others in promoting a real team atmosphere.

Kristin won the state title last season going 11' 9". She is beating that mark regularly and has a goal of going 13 feet.

Here's Greg Sapp's conversation with Kristin Slaughter...