Girls' Pole Vault
South Williamsport's Katie Jones is the favorite in the pole vault, coming off an impressive season (Photo by Don Rich)
Jones chases 13 feet, while the rest look to challenge
If there's one thing Pennsylvania does well (and we all know
it's more than just one thing), it's the girls' pole vault. The field is deep
this year. There's one favorite, but a handful of competitors who will look for
the shocker.
That favorite is Katie Jones of South Williamsport. Jones was undefeated this season until a runner-up finish at Millrose (which also happened to be her personal best). This has been her first indoor season, and it's been a remarkable one. Jones cleared 11-0 at last year's outdoor state meet to take fourth, but she's improved in leaps and bounds in 2016, all culminating with Sunday's state meet. This past weekend, Jones went over 12-11.5 at the Armory. She's 7.5 inches better than the #2 seed,as the big stage awaits her.
Council Rock South's Dominique Franco will be one to watch in Sunday's pole vault (Photo by Patty Morgan)
The next tier is Dominique Franco of Council Rock South, Rachel Finn of Liberty, and Lexi Baublitz of Central York. Franco cleared 12-4 back in January, but she's been working on a new step approach that could pay off big time at Penn State. Finn is another threat. She cleared 12-3 back in Decemeber at the Burdette Classic, and then finished sixth at Millrose. Meanwhile, Baublitz went over 12-3 the second day of the new year, but hasn't touched that height since.
Greensburg Salem's Michelle Karabin and Hempfield (7)'s Molly DeBone both enter the meet having cleared 11-9, while Megan Silva of Trinity (3)'s 11-7 make them contenders. A year ago, Bishop McDevitt's Tesia Kempski won the indoor state meet with a 12-0 clearance, but it's looking evermore likely that it will take a better vault this year.
List of entries:
Event 31 Girls Pole Vault (16)
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Starting Ht. 10' 0" Increase 6"
State Meet: 13-00.25 3/1/2008 Abby Schaffer, Easton Area
Name Year School Seed Mark
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1 Jones, Katie 11 S Williamsport 12-07.00
2 Franco, Dominique 12 CR South 12-04.00
3 Finn, Rachel 12 Liberty 12-03.00
4 Baublitz, Alexis 12 Central York 12-03.00
5 Karabin, Michelle 12 Greensburg C 11-09.00
6 DeBone, Molly 10 Hempfield (7) 11-09.00
7 Silva, Megan 12 Trinity (3) 11-07.00
8 Phelan, Cassandra 11 Laurel Highlands 11-06.00
9 Elliott, Nathalie 11 Spring Grove 11-06.00
10 Burner, Lucianne 12 North Pocono 11-06.00
11 Ritter, Paige 11 E Pennsboro 11-04.00
12 Gumbrecht, Greer 12 Easton 11-03.00
13 Wood, Savannah 12 CR South 11-03.00
14 Buntic, Nada 12 McDowell 11-03.00
15 Hawkins, Madisyn 11 James Coughlin 11-01.00
16 sheppard, carley 10 Manheim Cent 11-01.00