It was really a fluke that led Jennifer Swanson into pole vaulting. Swanson had competed in almost every high-school track and field event possible. But her team at Gilroy High School found it was repeatedly losing nine points at each meet for lack of a pole-vaulter. At her coach's suggestion, Swanson stepped up to try her hand at the high-flying sport. She discovered that she could not only meet the team's needs, but really excelled at pole vaulting and has been at the sport ever since. Last spring, she jumped 12 feet-4 inches and repeated that height during this year's indoor season, setting a new indoor record for herself and for UC Davis. In April, she qualified for the U.S. Track and Field Trials in Sacramento, vaulting 13 feet-1.5 inches. And, she was named the Western Region Female Athlete of the Year for indoor events by the U.S. Track and Field Coaches Association in 1999 and 2000 and for outdoor events in 2000. "I'm going to the trials for the experience," said Swanson realistically, noting that it will probably take a 15-foot vault to make the U.S. Olympic team. But she's whole-heartedly training five days per week, with two days spent in vaulting and five days devoted to running and lifting weights. An exercise-science major, Swanson has been juggling training, competition and studies, while also working part-time at a physical therapy clinic. After mid-year graduation next year, she hopes to go on to graduate school in physical therapy and eventually specialize in sports rehabilitation. She will compete July 21 for the opportunity to contend with a handful of other finalists on July 23 for the U.S. Olympic team.