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Legally blind 15-year-old pole vaulter competes at Texas state meet but is unable to win medal

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Emory Rains High School\'s Charlotte Brown, 15, poses for a photo near the pole vault pit at the UIL State Track & Field meet, Friday, May 10, 2013, in Austin, Texas. Despite being legally blind, Brown is one of the best pole vaulters in Texas and a favorite to medal Saturday in Class 3A at the high school state championship meet at the University of Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

AUSTIN, Texas – A legally blind 15-year-old pole vaulter cleared three heights at the Texas state championship but failed to win a medal.

Charlotte Brown of rural Emory Rains High School was one of the top qualifiers in girls’ Class 3A with a height of 11 feet, 6 inches. Her best vault of Saturday’s final was 10-6 and she missed on three chances at 11-0.

Brown was born with normal vision but developed problems while an infant. She has no depth perception, sees no colour and cannot distinguish shapes. Her range of vision is similar to looking through a tiny straw. She reads Braille and will get a seeing eye dog next month.

Brown, a sophomore, says she’s honoured to compete at the state meet and promises to return.

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