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Steamboat Springs — At this pace, Steamboat Springs might just become a hotbed for pole vaulting.

With less than two weeks of practice, sophomore Jaime Winter qualified for the state meet, winning a jump-off Tuesday at the regional pole-vaulting meet in Battle Mountain.

Winter, a former gymnast, cleared 7 feet, 6 inches in the jump-off to finish third. Winter now holds the school's record in the event.

"I wasn't nervous going into it, but at the beginning of the jump-off, I was pretty nervous," Winter said. "I didn't think I had a chance to make state."

Winter - in her second time trying to clear the bar - and the competitor from Battle Mountain both cleared 7 feet. In the jump-off, the bar was raised to 7-6. The Battle Mountain athlete missed her jump and Winter cleared the bar.

"Going in, I thought she had an outside chance to qualify for state," Steamboat coach Quint Friesell said. "But then she made the jump-off and won. It was awesome."

Emily Rabbitt cleared the opening height and Carl Steele, Dylan Pivarnik and Jeff Sperry all set personal bests for Steamboat.

Pivarnik finished seventh, clearing 8-6, and Sperry finished fifth with a clearing jump of 9-0.

"It was positive all around," Friesell said. "I think with the year so far, just getting pole vaulting, it's been amazing. Just the fact we started it so late and with the little amount of practice, these guys have literally gotten leaps and bounds better."

Winter now will prepare for the state meet in Denver on May 15 and 16.

Although the initial height at the state meet will be higher than the 7-6 she cleared Tuesday, she said she's just happy to be going.

"It was really exciting. I was really excited," she said. "It's pretty cool. Just considering we haven't ever had girls pole vaulting."