Athlete Feature: Keene’s Scott Rathbun

When did you start competing in track and field?

I started competing in 5th grade at Chesterfield Elementary School in Chesterfield, NH.

What is your favorite track and field event?  What are your personal bests?

My favorite track and field event is by far, Pole Vault.  My best jump is 13’7” and I’m looking to break that as soon as I can.

Describe your favorite competition memory:

My favorite competition memory was fairly recent.  It was a dual meet and I was jumping to break the school record of 13’6”. All of my teammates were lined up next to the runway and when I made it, it was a great feeling.

If you could do any event in track and field, which one would it be and why?

I would say I am doing the one I would want to do.  Pole Vault is such a unique event and I love competing and training for it.

Describe your favorite workout:

My favorite kind of workouts are circuit type workouts with many different fast paced exercises.  I also really like to incorporate bars and rings with core work for vault.


How does your coach motivate you?

My coach motivates me by telling me to relax.  He tells me to not be so uptight and to just jump like I do in practice and have fun doing it.

If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go?

Well, there’s a lot of really cool places I have heard about, so someday hopefully, I will be able to visit all of them.  I would love to go to Austria, because my dad says it was one of the nicest places he has ever been.

What is your go-to pre-meet meal?

I try to eat a well-rounded meal with a good amount of carbs and protein to keep me full. The day before, I usually eat pasta or something like that.

Do you have a favorite pre-race song?

I normally don’t listen to music before I compete, but if I did, it would probably be Magic Carpet Ride by Steppenwolf because it reminds me of my brother.

What motivates you most to do well?

My team motivates me a lot because I feel close to all of them and love to compete with them.  But, going over and thinking about all the work that I have done motivates me because I want it to count and I like seeing how my training has improved my performance.

What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

This is an interesting question.  I mean, failure is hard to define, but I probably wouldn’t do much different.  I probably wouldn’t be as nervous and would have more confidence.

What is the best advice or quote ever given to you?

I once heard someone say, “If you work hard and dedicate yourself, some pretty cool things can happen.”  Those may not be the exact words, but that’s what I am trying to do; work as hard as I can and make cool things happen. 

If you go to college, do you plan to compete in track and field? And where?

Yes, my goal is to compete for a college with a strong program.  I’m not sure where yet.  I’m still trying to narrow down my options.

What is your favorite thing about Track and Field?

My favorite thing is that even though Pole Vault isn’t a team sport, it feels like it is because I love the guys on my team and they are great to work with.

What is your favorite track facility?

The indoor facility at Yale, Coxe Cage, was one of the coolest places I have competed.  I look forward to going there again next year.

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