Thestandswerestillfilledwithabout,people,eventhoughthefinalracehadendedanhourearlier.Thepolevaultistrulythehighlightofanytrackandfieldcompetition.Itcombinesthegraceofagymnastwiththestrengthofabodybuilder.Italsohastheelementofflying,andthethoughtofflyingashighasatwo-storybuildingisamerefantasytoanyonewatchingsuchanevent.
WhenMichaelclearedthebaratfeetinchesandfeetinches,againheshowednoemotion.Ashelayonhisbackandheardthecrowdgroan,heknewtheothervaulterhadmissedhisfinaljump.Heknewitwastimeforhisfinaljump.Sincetheothervaulterhadfewermisses,Michaelneededtoclearthisvaulttowin.Amisswouldgethimsecondplace.Nothingtobeashamedof,butMichaelwouldnotallowhimselfthethoughtofnotwinningfirstplace.
Herolledoveranddidhisroutineofthreefinger-tippedpush-ups.Hefoundhispole,stoodandsteppedontherunwaythatledtothemostchallengingeventofhis-year-oldlife.
Sohedid.Alongwithshakingthetensionfromhislegs,hegentlylaidhispoleathisfeet.Hebegantostretchouthisarmsandupperbody.Thelightbreezethatwasoncetherewasnowgone.Hecarefullypickeduphispole.Hefelthisheartpounding.Hewassurethecrowddid,too.Thesilencewasdeafening.Whenheheardthesingingofsomedistantbirdsinflight,heknewitwashistimetofly.