ST. PAUL — Hayfield senior Kalli Jo Klocke proved that if you give her a little time, she can make big improvements.

Klocke re-set her own Hayfield high school pole vault record and she reached the podium at the Minnesota Class A State Track and Field Meet in Hamline University Saturday.

Klocke reached a height of 10 feet, 9-inches to take third place in her first ever state meet for the Vikings. Klocke’s previous best height was 10-3 and she had a height of 9-11 at last week’s Section 1A meet.

Klocke was a little awe-struck after reaching the state podium and she was even a little surprised by the improvements she made.

“It hasn’t hit me yet,” Klocke said.

She was able to make big improvements by working with her coaches on a daily basis for a week before the state meet.

“I had one on one practice with my coach this past week after having very limited time during the season,” Klocke said. “Having that time this week helped a lot.”

Due to the April snow that hit the area, Klocke began the season stuck in the gym like every other track and field athlete in Minnesota. But she made her time count, by watching youtube videos of pole vaulting and working on her steps.

On Saturday, she simply had to relax and do her best.

“I mostly didn’t think about pole vaulting, because when I do that I can get nervous,” Klocke said. “I tried to calm myself down. I’ve had lots of people help me and that’s been huge.”

Ashley Hokanson of Perham won the meet with a height of 11-7.

Klocke said she is now looking into pole vaulting at the college level next year.