Male Athlete of the Week

Name: Ron Walter Sport: Track and field Year: Junior Major: Administrative Justice Best… Name: Ron Walter Sport: Track and field Year: Junior Major: Administrative Justice Best Pole-vaulting moment: Breaking personal records

Despite sustaining almost one season-ending injury per year for the past four years, Ron Walter’s Pitt career is taking off.

Last weekend, in a meet against William and Mary, the junior placed second in the pole-vaulting competition.

“It wasn’t a great day,” Walter said. “It was raining and the head winds were blowing at you, it’s the worst thing that could probably happen.

“It’s hard to run and control the pole at the same time. But it wasn’t too bad.”

He maintains an optimistic spirit despite the sometimes-rocky road his career has taken.

This year, he’s rebounding from injuries last season. He fractured his pelvis, competed in two meets despite the fracture then pulled his hamstring and was out for the season. His freshman year, as he was vaulting, the pole broke and tore the webbing between his thumb and forefinger.

He began pole-vaulting in high school when some upperclassmen from the track team encouraged him to try out. He said it was probably one of the most decorated sports at Baldwin High School, just outside of Pittsburgh.

Walter set his high school record at 16 feet, 3 inches in 2005 and was a state champion and WPIAL champion his senior year. In 2004, he finished 11th at indoor nationals and fifth at outdoor, and he placed ninth at indoor nationals in 2005.

“I think [pole vaulting itself] deters people from doing it because it looks a little off from what someone’s comfort zone would be,” he said. “But I find it very fun to do.”

At Pitt, his accolades include the Morgan State Legacy Meet with a personal best high of 4.85 meters last season and second at the Slippery Rock Open with a height of 4.42 meters.

He also qualified for the Big East championships his freshman year, placing fifth with 4.65 m. The same season, he finished fourth at the Akron Quad and fifth at the Penn State Open.

On the academic side of Pitt, Walter is an administration of justice major and said he comes from a long line of cops and family members in the Secret Service.