BY KEVIN LONNQUIST
klonnquist@star-telegram.com

For Justin Northwest freshman Desiree Freier, it was an eye-opening experience at the Class 5A state track and field meet last weekend.
Not only did the pole vaulting specialist compete against the best that the state had to offer, she reached a new personal milestone and made some new friends.
Freier finished second with a personal record of 12-3. Round Rock McNeil's Kaitlin Petrillose won the state title with an effort of 12-6. And yet it was Petrillose who turned into Freier's best ally.
"Really, she encouraged me as I was going through the whole competition," Freier said. "It surprised me because I didn't think it was going to be that way at all."
The event is based who will advance as the bar is raised. Competitors were eliminated if they missed three consecutive attempts at a certain height.
"I was really nervous and thought I would vomit," Freier said. "It was a horrible warmup. I just didn't take off on any of them. I thought if I didn't get a medal, I would be letting a lot of people down."
The afternoon started with Freier easily clearing 10-6 on her first effort. She cleared 11-0 on her second attempt and then 11-6 on her first.
This was getting good. When the bar went to 12-0, Freier cleared, as did Petrillose. When Tomball's Brittany Wooten couldn't clear, that meant Freier was guaranteed at least second place.
The contest turned into a game of can-you-top-this. The bar went to 12-3. Petrillose cleared. Freier matched her.
"The adrenaline was going though me," Freier said. "I was actually getting more and more excited. I was having fun. I was putting all of my effort into it. I wanted [the state title]. I was hungry for it."
At 12-6, the senior Petrillose went over the bar. Freier tried but it wasn't meant to be.
"She wasn't intimidated, and she had an excellent meet," her soon-to-be stepfather George Rodriguez said. "To have a freshman take second and clear 12-3 is really unheard of."
Freier will take a couple of weeks off before resuming her training in early June. The goal is to break the national 14-year-old record of 12-61/2 before her 15th birthday on July 24.
"I gained a lot of things," Freier said. "I met new people. I have self confidence. I love the competition."