MINOT, N.D. –Abbey Aide (Jr., Pole Vault, Bottineau, N.D.) has been trying not to think too much about her appearance in the NCAA Division II Track & Field Championships.

“Maybe 20 to 30 times so far today,” said Aide with a smile. “I am so, so excited and so nervous. I try not to think about it too much but when I do, I try to think of it in a positive way. I tell myself 'You can do this! You can jump 13 feet'. I am ready to get down there and compete.”

Aide, Minot State's women's pole vault record holder, will compete Thursday afternoon in the program's first NCAA Division II Championships in Pueblo, Colo.

Like most that compete in the pole vault, Aide has been vaulting from young age. Her father, Mark, has coached her and her sisters throughout their youth and high school careers at Bottineau High School.

 “Vaulting is huge in our family,” stated Aide. “Everyone does it except for mom but she knows a lot about it. It's a family tradition kind of thing and we have a lot of fun with it. My dad is the absolute best coach just because he understands girls and understands his daughters. We love the sport; at home we always YouTube vaulting videos and it brings us together.”

When Aide competes Thursday, it will not be her first collegiate national competition. In 2010, during her freshman year, Aide qualified for both the indoor and outdoor NAIA National Championships. She placed eighth in the outdoor meet, clearing a height of 11 feet 9 inches.

After a successful freshman season Aide earned All-American honors during the 2011 indoor season, but then she suffered a torn ACL injury in her knee that kept her out of competition the rest of the season. Not only was it difficult for Aide to sit out a season, but she was unaware if she could make a comeback to perform at a high level.

“When I tore my ACL I was terrified,” said Aide. “Rehab to get back was hard but definitely something I wanted to do. I am really proud of myself from where I am now compared to where I was. I think in some ways the injury made me stronger.”

Abbey battled back to full strength just in time for Minot State's transition to the NCAA in 2012. With the transition complete, the competition level and expectations have undoubtedly been raised.

“The competition is bigger (In NCAA Division II) than it was in NAIA,” Aide said. “The level of everything is raised up that much more. At Nationals there will be a girl who cleared 14 feet 6 inches, so it's just bigger and a higher level.”

Aide has proved herself worthy throughout the season as she ranks No. 11 entering the Championships in Pueblo. Earlier this season at the Concordia College (Minn.) Invite, Aide broke her own school record in the pole vault, clearing a personal-best height of 12 feet 6.25 inches.

But as with any athlete, successes are not conquered without some disappointments.

At the Northern Sun Championships in Sioux Falls, S.D., Aide was primed to place in the top five, but an off day pushed Abbey out of contention as she recorded her first “No Height” of the season.

“At conference the weather was great and I have a nice back wind, but the small pole I used to clear wasn't really doing anything for me,” Aide said. “I didn't make the first two heights so I had just one chance left.”

“For the last height I went on my bigger pole and happened to miss the box which I have never missed in my life. That shifted me off and made me fall. I'm working on those adjustments and it won't happen again.”

Confidence is an attribute needed to have success competing in the pole vault. Throughout Aide's career, confidence has been low due to injuries and uncertainty, but it has also been high because of past and recent success.

 “Vaulting is a total mind game,” Aide said. “Sometimes I don't have the mindset to pole vault and I have to tell myself to just let it go and try again tomorrow. You have to be in your right mindset to succeed and have the confidence to achieve your goals.”

Aide has achieved so much during her career as a Beaver, but the best is hopefully to come Thursday afternoon. In preparation, Aide will just have to think of the good times and not the bad.

“I replay good memories, like the first time I cleared 12 feet and 12 feet six inches. It's about keeping the good memories and letting the bad ones go.”