Some people are born to run.

Others are born to jump.

Timberlake senior Sam Simmons was born to fly.

And after back-to-back state 3A championships in the pole vault as a sophomore and junior, there isn't much that can keep Timberlake High senior Sam Simmons grounded.

Simmons has spent the past three years soaring to previously unreachable heights as a pole vaulter on the school's track and field team.

Now, with the state 3A meet less than a month away, her focus will turn to defending her state title in the pole vault.

"She's a tremendous vaulter," Timberlake coach Brian Kluss said. "She spends a tremendous amount of time working on it."

Simmons also has a regulation-sized pole vault pit in her backyard.

"I try to vault as much as I can on the weekends at my pit," Simmons said. "My training consists of basic high school track workouts, as well as workouts at the Kroc Center."

Before the start of the season, Simmons signed a letter of intent to compete in track and field at Idaho State University in Pocatello.

Her father Pat, who graduated from Bothell (Wash.) High, went to Idaho State in 1983 and '84, also competing in the pole vault.

"My dad has helped me in tremendous ways," Simmons said. "He is at every meet and is there by the pit during every vault. He coaches me both on and off the track."

At home, the 5-foot-4 Simmons practices on a 90-foot runway in her back yard, behind a shop and on half an acre of family property. The pole vault pit is up a little hill, and surrounded by pine trees.

"I feel very lucky to have my own pit because vaulting is something my whole family can do and I love being able to teach my friends as well," Simmons said. "It's best in the summertime when my friends and I vault into the lake and then go up and vault barefoot at the pit. It's a very laid-back atmosphere."

In an attempt to build on her success, Simmons did indoor sessions that spanned from November to February at the Community Colleges of Spokane.

Simmons competed in four indoor events during the winter, with her highest finish a third-place showing in the Simplot Games in Pocatello with a vault of 11 feet, 9 inches.

"It was a great experience," Simmons said. "It was awesome to compete against some amazing and very talented girls. The competition was challenging, but I placed third and I am very happy with that."

During last week's Christina Finney Relays at Post Falls, Simmons set a school record with a vault of 11-9.

Her winning height of 11-1 last year at the state 3A meet is a classification record.

"She's been inching that up for a while now," Kluss said. "That mark is great, but all that matters is what you do at the state meet."

Earlier in her career, Simmons often was injured trying to split time between spring soccer and track. Often times, she'd miss time during track season due to pain in her legs.

"She dedicated her spring and summer after her sophomore year to doing this (pole vault)," Kluss said. "At times, she had so much pain in her legs that we were lucky if she made it through the year."

"There has not been a time when I thought that I would not be able to continue vaulting," Simmons said. "Vaulting is truly my life and my passion and I have no idea what I would do without it."

Since finishing second at districts as a sophomore, she hasn't lost in the event.

She'll look for a third state title May 18-19 at Eagle High. Timberlake's girls are the defending team champion.

"She's more dedicated to whatever goal she has," Kluss said. "If it's in the 400, she wants to run it in 55 seconds, which is unheard of. But to her, she'll do everything she can do complete it."

Simmons is also certified to coach the pole vault at the high school level and is like an assistant coach to Roy Albertson, the school's vault coach.

"Sam works very hard on her vaulting and helping her teammates," Albertson said. "She's really good at helping with the younger kids. There's none of this 'I'm better than you.' It's more of 'I've been where you're at' and she wants to help them get better."

"I don't think there was a specific time where it just clicked for me," Simmons said. "I think that because I have been coached by so many different coaches, that all of their advice and teachings are helping me progress little by little each time I step on the track."

Simmons also received interest from the University of Montana, but opted to attend school in Pocatello.

"I'm familiar with the campus and area after competing down there during the winter," Simmons said. "

Simmons also competes in the high jump, 4x100 meter relay, 100 meter dash and occasionally the sprint medley and long jump. The 4x100 relay team is a three-time runner-up at state.

"My events change depending on where my coach thinks I am the best fit for the upcoming meet," Simmons said.

Though she was recruited as a pole vaulter, Simmons said she wants to eventually become a heptathlete.

"She's just a competitor," Kluss said. "We're very fortunate to have a girl like that in our school."

In the classroom, Simmons had a 3.65 GPA and is ranked 11th in the senior class.

"She's a really good student," Kluss said. "The pole vault is a real technical event."

Simmons said she'd like to study biology or become a dentist after graduating from Idaho State, but hasn't ruled out also becoming a coach.

"I want to be a dentist because they have flexible work schedules," Simmons said. "So if the opportunity arose, I could coach high school pole vault as well. And helping people smile more sounds like a wonderful job to me."