Pole vaulter rises to Olympic challenge

For Long Beach State pole-vaulter Borya Celentano, he knew track and field was in his blood.

"My father was a track runner, my mom was a track runner my older brother was also, so I kind of knew I was heading in that direction," Celentano said.

However, Celentano would not follow in his family footsteps, as he would instead compete in pole vault after seeing it at the first day of practice. Celentano said that it was the excitement of the event that intrigued him.

"I was always one who liked to something dangerous or exciting and to me that looked the most dangerous and exciting," Celentano said. "So I tried it out and I loved it and have loved it ever since."

It is that love that has given Celentano an invitation to the U.S. Olympic Trails in Sacramento on July 14-23. The top three finishers of 30 competitors will head to the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, in September.

Going into the trials Celentano said he feels like an underdog but that is the way he prefers it.

"I feel very confident," Celentano said. "I kind of like going in that way because nobody expects anything from me."

If everything does go well, Celentano will get an Olympic berth and head for Sydney, which would be a fulfillment to his pole-vaulting career.

"Ever since the first day I started pole vaulting that's been what I wanted to do was go to the Olympics," Celentano said.