Pole-vaulter Rachel Laurent is blazing through the LSU record books.Laurent, a freshman, has already etched her name into the rich lore of an LSU track and field program that has amassed 31 national championships.The Houma native holds the LSU indoor and outdoor pole-vaulting records, with jumps of 14 feet, one-half inch and 14 feet, 1 1/4 inches, respectively.Laurent’s most recent success came in Philadelphia at the Penn Relays, when she topped the field with a jump of 13 feet, 10 1/2 inches. That jump garnered her the top spot in the 115-year history of the Relays.”That tells you an awful lot about her,” said LSU coach Dennis Shaver. “She’s certainly proven she’s a national caliber competitor.”Records are nothing new to Laurent. One of the most gifted athletes to ever grace high school track and field, Laurent finished her senior season at Vandebilt Catholic High School ranked as the No. 1 pole-vaulter in the nation.Needless to say, she raked in some impressive accolades along the way.Among the notables is a gold medal in the USA Junior World Championships in June of last year and two consecutive Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year honors in 2006 and 2007.But her collegiate success hasn’t been a surprise.”She’s always had the drive and ability,” said Charlie Laurent, Rachel’s father. “She’s had good coaching to go along with it.”Shaver deferred credit for Laurent’s performance.”She’s made the transition look easy,” Shaver said. “Coach Todd Lane, who works with our jumpers, has done a fantastic job of showing a lot of patience with the group as a whole.”Laurent was more modest.”I’m very happy with how the transition [to college] has gone,” Laurent said.Laurent isn’t fazed by her rapid ascension into the elite of collegiate pole-vaulting. She has her eye on something bigger — the 2012 Olympics.”That’s my big goal,” Laurent said. “I’m trying to work hard and reach it.”Shaver, who has coached many Olympians, such as Richard Thompson and Lolo Jones, has no doubt Laurent has the ability to compete in London.”As the years pass, if she continues to improve her speed and fitness, she’ll have an opportunity to make the U.S. Olympic team,” Shaver said.Originally a gymnast, Laurent ventured in pole-vaulting during her eighth grade year at Vandebilt Catholic with her sister Amanda. It was then suggested to her mother that gymnasts made for good pole-vaulters.”We fell in love with [pole-vaulting],” Laurent said.Laurent proceeded to finish her high school career with the second-highest jump in the sport’s history, a 14-foot leap at the Nollie Arcement Relays during her senior season at Vandebilt.Coming out of high school, Laurent had every major program in the country salivating over the prospect of having her. She took three official visits — Texas Tech, Texas A&M and LSU.But Charlie Laurent said there was never any doubt where she would land.”She always had her heart set on LSU,” Charlie Laurent said. “My wife and I both went to LSU, so it was natural. We’re very proud of her. It’s a fun thing to watch when your child is successful.”With success come expectations. After a near-unmatched season, Laurent is simply focused on improving her marks.”I just want to try and stay healthy and continue to improve every year,” Laurent said.Shaver agreed. He said Laurent has considerable room for improvement, despite her already impressive skill set.”Once she can gain a little more power, her speed is going to increase, and that will allow her to get on stiffer poles,” Shaver said. “Once she does that, I think she’s going to jump higher.”—-Contact Chris Branch at [email protected]