The heat was scorching on Saturday, as the Pole Vault runway was put together on the in-field of the University of Brockport Outdoor Track. Around them, the USATF Youth Nationals event was taking place, but inside the oval, it was all Jenn Suhr's Elite Pole Vault event. She had brought together both male and female HS National Leaders, as well as the Mexican National Record Holder, and some notable Rochester alum.
To kick off the day, both Kaylee Bizzell and Nastassja Campbell opened the bar up at 13-0. After both cleared, the High Schooler Campbell moved the bar up to 14-0. Clearing that, she went for the All-Time HS Record of 14-8, fouling out. Still, her clearance of 14-0 is still the best by a High Schooler this Spring, only surpassed by Erica Ellis (Unattached) indoors, when she cleared 14-1.25. Ellis is another product of Rick Suhr's training group, and Jenn's custom Adrenaline poles.
Suhr would come in at this height as well, clearing on her second attempt. She would move the bar up twice more, hitting a final clearance of 15-3. Her season best of 4.93 (16-2) was set in Texas of this year. It also serves as her Outdoor Personal Best, which also comes after she was set to retire. The allure of the new Adrenaline pole technology has reinvigorated her interest, as well as aiding in the development of HS talent. Suhr has cleared 5.02 (16-5.75) in 2013, and 5.03 (16-6) in 2016, the latter of which still stands as the Indoor World Record.
One of the highlights of the meet came in the Men's competition, where Zach Ferrara set a new Personal Best. Ferrara is an Irondequoit grad from 2009, whose Pole Vaulting career really took off in College. Competing for Brockport, his best improved nearly 4-ft, where he ultimately took 1st at the D1 Indoor Champs in 2013 with a 16-8.5. Once out of College, Ferrara now competes for Suhr Adrenaline, and has moved the bar up even more. On Saturday, he cleared a new best of 5.35m (17-6.5), which elevates him to a new pantheon of NY vaulters. He's now #2 All-Time for Alumni from Western New York, trailing only Dan Tierney, the Medina grad who vaulted 17-9 in 2009, while Ferrara was still a senior in HS. The Alumni State Record is held by Rory Quiller (James I. O'Neill - Class of '03), when he vaulted 18-1 on May, 25th, 2007. Suhr holds the Girls Alumni State Record.
