Shealy Enrolls at Cuesta College in California

Chase Shealy Mug
Shealy moved to California on Dec. 26, 2003.
Chase Shealy is beginning his collegiate academic and pole vault career this January at San Luis Obispo Campus, a part of Cuesta College. The college is in San Obispo, Calif. Shealy graduated from Brookland Cayce High School in May 2003. Classes start for Shealy on Jan. 20.

The San Luis Obispo Campus does not have an indoor schedule, but the outdoor season starts on Feb. 12. The first home meet for Shealy and the 2004 Cougars Track and Field Team is the Cuesta Invitational on Feb. 21.

Shealy arrived at Cuesta on Dec. 26, 2003 in order to get settled in, start training, and to prepare for his academic life. While not taking care of business in academics and athletics, Shealy has been learning to surf.

Shealy is coached by Jan Johnson, a 1972 Olympic Bronze Medalist in the pole vault and former world holder in the pole vault. "Chase is doing a great job in our program," said Jan Johnson. "He (Chase) seems very excited to be here on the central coast.... training with such a good bunch of people. In my opinion he (Chase) is very talented. In addition, he (Chase) has many ways in which he can improve (both technically and physically) in his pole vaulting. I am very excited to have him (Chase) at Cuesta college (as part of our group). "

The head of the track and field program at Cuesta is Jani Johnson. Jani is a former world class runner. Jani became the first female track and field athlete to receive a scholarship at Cal Poly. Johnson finished ninth in the 800 meters at one year of the Division I National Championships. Jani is married to Jan and they have two children. After having children Jani won the women's division of the Pacific 10k in Marin, Calif. in 34:35.

The college recently renovated the track facility and as stated at cuesta.edu one of Jani's hopes is to host additional meets with local running organizations. Even with the hosting more meets, Jani also stated at cuesta.edu that the main focus (of hers) is on the athletes. Before becoming head coach at Cuesta, Jani was an assistant coach at Atascadero High School since 1998.

While teaching on a part time basis between 1990 and 2001, Jani served as the assistant coach for track and field, cross-country and soccer. The current Cougar Head Coach also served as coordinator for the college's Employee Wellness Program. Along with coaching, Jani and her husband Jan are owners and operators of "Skyjumpers," a business that teaches pole-vaulting techniques and helps to market pole-vaulting clubs and clinics.

The sport of track and field continues for the Johnson family as their daughter recently received a track and field scholarship to UCLA. Their daughter won a state pole vault title in front of over 10,000 spectators.

Johnson received her master's degree in health and physical education from Southern Illinois University, her bachelor's degree in physical education from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and attended Santa Barbara City College with a major in physical education.

Cuesta College Athletic Programs are funded through a combined effort of the College District, Associated Students of Cuesta College, the Athletic Booster Club, Cellular One of San Luis Obispo, and other individual fund raising projects.

Following a successful senior season at Brookland Cayce Shealy was ranked fourth in pole vault in the nation (Jack Shepherds Track Annual) with a season best of 17'1". The last meet Shealy competed in South Carolina was the Clemson Opener on Dec. 6 where he captured the pole vault title over several Atlantic Coast Conference vaulters.

2004 Cougar Track and Field Schedule

DateDayOpponentLocationTime
Feb. 13ThursdayWSC #1 VEN, WLA, COC Canyons2:00
Feb. 21SaturdayCuesta InvitationalCuesta10:00
Feb. 27FridayWSC #2 GI, SB, COCSanta Barbara2:00
March 5FridayWSC #3 CIT, SM, HAN, OXSanta Monica2:00
March 12-13Fri/SatBakersfield RelaysBakersfield10:00
March 19FridayEaster RelaysSBCC10:00
March 23-24Tues/WedHep/Dec ChampionshipsSanta Monica10:00
March 27SaturdayEd Adams InvitationalHartnell10:00
Apr. 2Friday WSC #4 MP, BAK, HANCuesta2:00
Apr. 9FridayMt. Sac RelaysWalnut9:00
Apr. 17SaturdayWSC PrelimsBakersfield10:00
Apr. 24SaturdayWSC FinalsCanyons10:00
May 1SaturdaySo. Cal. PrelimsCerritos10:00
May 8SaturdaySo. Cal. FinalsBakersfield10:00
May 14-15SaturdayState MeetBakersfield9:00
(All times Pacific)

For more information on Shealy at Cuesta College visit: http://www.cuesta.edu/slocampus.asp.

(Rusty Shealy contributed to this article and information for this article was taken from www.cuesta.edu.)