In athletics, having teammates that push each other is essential in having a successful team.
For the Gibbon sisters, this could not be more true. Dana and Amanda Gibbon are identical twins who are seniors on the track team and are two of the team’s four pole vaulters.
Dana, a biochemistry major and physics and math minor, hopes to vault over 10 ft. 4 in. by the time of the track and field conference championships.
Amanda, a computer science and electronic arts double major hopes to vault over 11 ft. by the conference championships.
Both sisters participated in track and field at Eastside Prep high school in Kirkland, Washington.
Dana initially threw discus her junior year while Amanda started pole-vault her senior year of high school.
Dana was a gymnast when she was younger and that prompted her to consider joining the track and field team in high school.
Dana started pole-vaulting at Linfield her junior year and did high jump her freshman and sophomore years.
Amanda has participated in pole vault at Linfield all four years. Doing an event like pole vault takes a lot of preparation both mentally and physically.
“The mental aspect of vaulting can be difficult to overcome sometimes,” said Dana.
“Getting a big personal best after not doing so well for a while is the best feeling,” commented Dana.
Both sisters complete the sprinter’s workouts on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
“Core and ab workouts area a big part of our training … basically we do anything that helps strengthen your upper body,” Amanda said.
Dason Tiogangco, who was a two-time Northwest Conference champion in pole vault, is the sisters coach.
“Dason has been a big help to us,” the sisters said.
This is Tiogangco’s sixth year coaching at Linfield. He is also the assistant director for admissions at the college.
Tiogangco ranks sixth on Linfield’s all time top ten list for pole vault. Since pole vault is a demanding activity on the body, the sisters spend a large amount of time during the season rehabbing.
“We take a lot of ice baths and do a lot of rehab in the training center after practice,” the sisters said.
“Recovery is really important if you want to compete at your full potential,” Dana said.
The sisters both mentioned it’s helpful having each other there to push and encourage each other.
“We are both competitive people so it is great to have someone there to push you,” said Amanda.
“We are really excited for the season and glad to have more pole vaulters on the team,” Dana said.
Both sisters agreed the weather is one part of pole-vault as well as track and field that they dislike the most.
“We both want to place in the top 8 at conference so we can score points for the team,” the sisters said.
The next meet for the sisters and the Wildcats is March 14 at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, Oregon.