It may be the first time it's ever happened. The same Class State Record went down on the same day, in both genders. Upstate New York is slowly growing into a Pole Vault powerhouse, as both 8th Grade State Record's went down Saturday.
Section 5 A Growing Power
You may have first heard of the Rochester area as a Pole Vault hotbed, mainly due to the training and tutelage of Rick Suhr, and his wife, Jenn, who happens to hold the Indoor World Record in the event. They trained the former State and National Record Holder Mary Saxer, among others. More recently, they've been working with Erica Ellis, who cleared 14-1.25 this Indoor Season to set a new Junior National Record.
But there is another name in female vaulting in the area. 8th Grade Laura Reigle (Hilton) has been on the scene for two years now, approaching the 7th Grade State Record last year, held by another Rochester local, Karmen Auble (Warsaw). As an 8th Grader Indoors this year, she got up to 10-0, just shy of Ellis' Indoor Record for that Grade with a 10-3.5. Well, it was worth the wait, as Reigle finally gets her first record, clearing 11-4.5 at the Section 5 Class AA Champs. The mark bests' Ellis' Outdoor Record of 11-4.25, set at a USATF meet in 2015.
The mark also makes Reigle the Section Leader, meaning she will have a good chance to extend her season through the State Meet. And there, she'll have some company from another Record Holder....
Mancabelli Moves Up
Kegan Mancabelli (Orchard Park) had already broken the 8th Grade State Record at a Dual Meet last week. But his coach knew there was more in the tank, after close missed at 13-0 in the rain at Loucks. Well, consider those expectations exceeded, as Mancabelli walks away with a shiny new PR of 13-3.25 to win the ECIC Championships. The mark now makes him the 4th best Middle School vaulter in the country, and improves his standing amongst the State.
We plan to see more from Mancabelli deep into the post-season as well.