Front row, from left: Wyatt Fuehrer, David Laperle, Vytas Kriavinuas, Zack Czerwick, Rhyan Anders, Conner Mcgovern, Kyle Mackey, Allison Ward, Cyrena Sharp, Erika Pyle. Back row: Kim Jackson, Sandra Brown, Dallas Miller, Amber Blackmore, Sam Wagner, Brianna Blackmore, Jordan Cullison, Abby Clark. Standing, from left: Coaches Joe Heron and Derek Cullison.

A happy hoard of costumed athletes -- including one tiny little dude dressed as Batman -- ran down a pumpkin-lined runway and sailed over spider-infested crossbars on Sunday, Oct. 13th, at the mega-awesome Heights on Halloween vault.

The event, co-sponsored by DC Athletics and Elite Pole Vault, was held in Danville, Indiana, about 30 minutes west of Indianapolis.

After a week's delay due to poor weather, twenty-two vaulters ranging from tiny-tot to master's made the best of a beautiful autumn day in Indiana.

It was an unforgettable experience for storybook heroine Maggie Steele, who'd never visited the Hoosier State or experienced a Halloween vault before. The inspirational novel Maggie Vaults Over the Moon was presented to several top finishers at the event.

"Maggie was a huge inspiration to our vaulters during this years spook-tacular event," said DC Athletics Coach Derek Cullison.

Storybook Maggie is a gutsy Kansas farm girl who overcomes her fears and soars to new heights as a pole-vaulter. Her inspiring story has been endorsed by US Olympic vaulters, school counselors, teachers, and many top coaches — including Cullison, who was delighted to present copies of Maggie to the event's top vaulters.

"We loved having her at the event and can't wait until next year!" he added. "Our top two female vaulters overcame obstacles and set personal best records during our event. The books were a huge hit."

With more than a decade of pole-vault experience, Cullison overcame his own fears to become a middle school and high school record holder, a two-time Indiana State Meet qualifier, and a four-year varsity athlete at Purdue University with a personal best of 16-4. Now Cullison uses his knowledge to teach youngsters how to enjoy the sport safely.

"It's great to see younger coaches like Derek passing along his passion for pole-vaulting to a new generation," said author Grant Overstake. "It's obvious from everything he's doing and the solid approach he's taking that his young vaulters are destined to follow Maggie's trajectory over the moon. And, they're going to have a lot of fun doing it."

Maggie Vaults Over the Moon is available in paperback or eBook and can be purchased through Amazon.com in the United States, Canada, China, Japan, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, France, and Italy. Maggie also is available at Australia’s premier online bookseller, Angus & Robertson, and at hundreds of local independent US booksellers near you. Contact the author for library discounts.

Maggie Inspires Costumed Competitors at Heights on Halloween Vault