Bayles signs NLI with Mount Olive's track program

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on May 30, 2015 11:26 PM

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PRINCETON -- Princeton head boys' track coach Mark McLamb recognized Martin Bayles' potential as a pole vaulter during his sophomore season.

He wasn't sure about his dedication.

Bayles also ran cross country and wrestled, which took time away from an event that required extra time. But the soft-spoken and modest Bayles soon transformed into an elite athlete through hard work and dedication.

McLamb immediately noticed the change.

"You could always find him doing extra abs/general strength workouts at the end of practice when everyone else was going home," McLamb said.

Bayles began to work out with fellow pole vaulters in the Raleigh area. He learned how to properly build his speed, count his steps down the runway, when to plant the pole and how to use every muscle in his body to clear the height.

His effort paid big dividends during his junior and senior campaigns. He won a pair of Carolina 1-A Conference championships, claimed the Mideast Regional crown this season and broke his own personal-best mark (12 feet, 0 inches) with a program-record vault of 12-6 in the season-ending conference track and field championship meet.

That height also matched the conference record.

Less than two weeks later, Bayles earned the bronze medal (third place) in the N.C. High School Athletic Association state championship meet.

At that point, Bayles knew his next goal was within reach -- complete his intention to attend University of Mount Olive. He signed a national letter-of-intent with the Trojans on Thursday.

Bayles joins a program that's won four consecutive NCAA Division II Conference Carolinas titles and produced four All-Americans since its inception in 2008-09.

"That's been my plan most of the time," said Bayles, who watched UMO work out on occasion at Princeton since there is no on-campus facility.

"I really started watching them when my cousin (Sebastian Jackson) was there. We would go to some of his meets and I'd see them up against really big schools and they were holding their own.

"It was cool seeing people at the next level do what I like to do. It made me want to work harder."

Bayles understands the challenge that lies ahead. He has to add muscle to his 5-foot-9, 150-pound frame and stick to his normal regimen -- ab work, pull-ups, running and weight training.

McLamb expects to see Bayles exceed even more.

"Once he focuses on the vault year round, he should see some huge improvements," McLamb said. "I do not know much about University of Mount Olive track because I have never sent any of my former athletes there, but I am pretty sure Martin will end up being the best vaulter they have ever had."