Against doctor's orders

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers TOP-FLIGHT- Oaks Christian senior Lauren Radke has won three straight CIF-SS pole vault titles. If Lauren Radke's doctor is reading this, then she just got busted. If not, trouble remains for Radke's pole-vaulting competition.

Radke, an Oaks Christian senior, was diagnosed with Graves' disease during March 2005. The disease is an autoimmune disorder that involves overactivity of the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism).

"When I first learned I had the disease, it was more of a sigh of relief on my part than anything," Radke said.

"I had lost about 45 pounds, and my performance in polevaulting wasn't the same. I was worried that I'd peaked in my performance too early in my life."

Although Radke's doctors advised her to minimize her athletic activities, she hasn't let the disease keep her down.

Since being diagnosed, Radke has won three CIFSouthern Section Division IV pole vault titles. Everyone in the Ventura County pole-vaulting community seems to know who Radke is now. Radke's just glad her doctor doesn't belong to that community.

"He actually doesn't know I'm competing in some of my events," Radke said with a laugh.

"After my junior year, the doctor didn't clear me for every event I compete in. But polevaulting is a big part of my life. You just can't tell me I can't do it. I love it too much."

Oaks Christian head track coach Wes Smith initially tried to limit Radke in her events, but the senior would have none of it.

"You try to give her guidance sometimes, but she'll just shrug it off," Smith said. "She's not the type of person you tell she can't do something, because she'll go right out and prove she can do it."

Although Radke continues to perform at a high level- she recently vaulted more than 12 feet for the first time- she is extra cautious when competing. Radke always wears a heartrate monitor at her track meets.

Radke's heart is not supposed to beat more than 110 times a minute, and when it does she gets nervous.

"I was a little scared the first time I competed with it on," Radke said. "They start to make these noises when you go over the limit. The first day I used them, I had barely broken a sweat; I look down and I'm like, 'Damn, I'm at 250 already!' So I do have to watch it."

Radke focuses more on her pole-vaulting than her hurdle and relay races because there's less running in the event, therefore the threat of going over 110 is minimal.

Radke's dedication has paid off as she recently earned a trip to the Masters meet at Cerritos College on Friday thanks to her firstplace finish at the CIFSS Division IV Finals last weekend at Mount San Antonio College.

The Lion senior may be excelling in the pole vault, but her success didn't come overnight.

"When I first tried the event I was intrigued and terrified at the same time," Radke said. "You run a shorter distance, but instead of using your arms to help run faster, those arms are carrying a 13-foot, 20-pound pole.

"I remember my first meet competing in the event. I had finally been able to get myself in the air, but I was asking my coaches, 'What do I do once I get across the bar?'"

Unfortunately for Radke, she didn't have many people at Oaks Christian her first few years to answer those questions.

The sport's techniques were unknown to most of the Lions' track and field staff, and Radke had to go elsewhere for advice- to UCLA.

Radke makes the 30-mile trip to UCLA every Monday and Wednesday afternoon, where she joins local pole-vaulters such as Ken Sugai of Oak Park High and Jordan Tyler of Moorpark High.

At UCLA, Anthony Curran coaches all the pole-vaulters.

"Mondays and Wednesdays are very fun," Radke said. "A lot of local vaulters, as well as vaulters from Los Angeles, will train together on those days. It's like we have a separate community that I'm proud to be a part of. It's been nice because I hated working out by myself before."

In the past year, much to Radke's surprise, she also started getting support from Oaks Christian parent and "Farscape" actor, Ben Browder.

"It's been nice to get some help this year," Radke said. "(Browder) has a daughter in the eighth grade, so he started volunteering this year. At first I didn't expect him to know anything about the sport, but as time has gone by he's helped me a lot, and I'm finally starting to trust that he knows what he's doing."

Radke, who also played golf for the Lions, will attend UC Davis this fall. While in college, she plans on continuing to get better at polevaulting, no matter the obstacles.

"I hate clichés, but nothing is ever as bad as it seems," Radke said.

"I worked at a camp for foster kids in the Bronx this past summer, and while working there it hit me: Their problem can't necessarily be fixed, but my problem can be. I can't feel sorry for myself when I know other people have it worse than me."

Before Radke attends UC Davis, Smith is glad to have her on his roster for a few more meets.

"She is a positive example for our whole team," Smith said. "I always tell our athletes to make the most of the things we have no control over in life. Lauren is a phenomenal example of someone doing that perfectly."