Tori Pena of Finn Valley AC set a new Irish Pole Vault Record in Nevada, USA on Saturday, improving the record she already owned to 4.45m.

Although short of the World Indoor qualification standard of 4.52m, Pena bettered the National Indoor Pole Vault record of 4.21m which she set in Seattle in January last year and the vault is higher than her Irish record of 4.40m

Jordan Scott’s blog – This is only my 3rd time (2nd as an elite) at the UCS Spirit Reno Pole Vault Summit, and i just can’t see how it can get better, but it does every year!! If you love the pole vault and you’ve never been out here, get your butt in gear and plan on it for next year because it is truly a unique experience. Last year when I arrived, hardly any kids and high schoolers knew who I was. Only some of the major fans of the sport and the local midwest kids. And then after the competition where I got 3rd place at 5.50m/18′ 0.5″ with a sweet hair design and a green mohawk, everyone wanted my autograph and suddenly I realized that I belonged in this sport as a professional. This year when I arrived… people knew who I was. That was the coolest feeling in the world. I was even signing autographs and talking to groups of kids and fans at the airport on the way out here! This event is the single most inspiring and motivational event in the world for an emerging elite athlete, someone who can vault higher than most collegiate vaulters, yet not quite competitive enough to keep up with the best in the world at most competitions. Being around all of these younger vaulters who look up to us and want autographs is inspiring in itself, Continue reading →

Jordan Scott’s blog — Height: 5.37m or 17′ 7.25″
Approach: 18 steps
Pole: 5m – 14.5
Place: 3rd

Boy did I get dominated by Brad Walker… haha. That was such a fun competition last night though! Nine of the country’s best vaulters competing in front of 1500 pole vault fanatics… you just can’t beat that. The energy in the arena was unreal and it got LOUD. My jumping didn’t amount to the hype I tried to create on my last post, but man am I close to doing some big things! I opened up at 5.22m/17’1.5″ and blew over it on the first attempt. Then I cleared 5.37m/17’7.25″ on my first attempt but almost brushed it on the way down. Luckily I didn’t touch it very hard and it stayed up, because the height was definitely there. Then the bar goes to 5.52m/18’1.25″ and I started doing things a little too good… I started running faster than I ever have. They had “timing gates” that measured our velocity at the last 10 meters from take-off on every jump. I’m not sure how accurate they are so I’ll refrain from telling you the speed they recorded until I get a further in-depth analysis from our biomechanist later today. But I was smokin! Continue reading →

Jenn Suhr — the world’s No. 1 ranked pole vaulter — is entered in the Millrose Games’ Fred Schmertz Women’s Pole Vault event February 11 at the Armory’s New Balance Track & Field Center, announced today by the Armory Foundation.

Suhr is one of five women in this year’s field who have cleared 15 feet.

“I’m looking forward to a great indoor season leading into this Olympic year,” said Suhr, a native of Fredonia, N.Y. where she won the 2000 New York State pentathlon title. “I’m healthy and look forward to vaulting in the Armory. The runway is fast and if all goes well, I feel like I can get a great jump Continue reading →

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Freshman Emily Grove tied the school indoor pole vault record and freshman Analisa Huschle captured the long jump to lead the South Dakota women’s track and field team at the opening day of the Jack Johnson Minnesota Classic Friday in Minneapolis, Minn. The Coyote women are in second place – trailing only Minnesota – after five events while the men are in fourth place after the completion of just two events.

Grove (Pontiac, Ill.) continued her strong start to the indoor season. She recorded a vault of 13-7 ¼ (4.15 meters) and was the top collegiate finisher at the event. She tied the record set by teammate Bethany Buell (St. Louis, Mo.) in 2011. Grove’s vault is second in the Summit League this season and is tied for seventh-best in the nation.

Rod Kammenga, a 1968 Oak Harbor High School graduate, was inducted into the Washington State Track and Field Coaches Association Hall of Fame earlier this month.

Kammenga, who spent most of his 38-year career at Bellingham and Squalicum high schools, is the first assistant coach to be inducted.

He helped lead Bellingham to two boys and two girls state titles. He also helped Bellingham win nine boys and seven girls league titles and Squalicum win a boys conference title.

Kammenga made his mark as a jump coach. He coached seven state pole vault champions, two state long jump champions, three state high jump champions, the current 2A state meet record holder and numerous state placers.

His high jump relay set a state record in 1985 at 19 feet, 8 inches.

In the pole vault, Kammenga led 10 boy vaulters over 14 feet, four over 15 feet and four over 16 feet.

He was one of the coaches at the forefront of girls joining the event and guided two girl vaulters over 10 feet and two over 11 feet.

He has coached 12 high jumpers over 6-6.

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Nine Big Ten women’s indoor track and field teams were in action this past week and several top individual performances were recorded. At Illinois, Stephanie Richartz reset the school record in the pole vault with a mark of 13-2 ¼ (4.02m) at the Illini Classic.

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