Griffin Thompson (left, photo by Patty Morgan) and Katie Jones (right, photo by Megan Zeller) picked up wins during an exciting weekend of pole vault action at states
We are spending the next month or so counting down the top 20 moments of the 2015-2016 year in Pennsylvania track and field and cross country. Last time, we brought you the stellar performances from the PA talent at the Penn Relays. Today, we'll switch gears to a fantastic weekend of pole vault competition at the PIAA Track and Field State Championships.
-------
Ask most pole vaulters in Pennsylvania where their favorite venue to compete is and the answer you're most likely to get is Shippensburg University. And it's not just because that also happens to be where the state meet is held.
At Ship, the runways run parallel with the home stretch of the track, which means that it's centerstage for the fans to watch. Often times, the pole vaulters compete near the turns and out of sight from the general grandstand area. But at states, the fans are up close and personal with plenty of PV action, and they were treated to some special performances at states.
Starting things off were the AAA girls. In a competition that saw the top four all clear 12-6, it was Easton's Greer Gumbrecht, who grabbed gold on jumps over Liberty's Rachel Finn, Council Rock South's Dominique Franco, and East Pennsboro's Paige Ritter. The exciting battle was just the start of big things to come on the vaulting runways at Ship.
The AAA boys put together a great compeititon as well. The favorites---McDowell's Caleb Sanford, Hempfield's Hayden Fox, Hatboro Horsham's Nick Marino, and State College's Griffin Thompson---were all there at 15-3. Fox, Marino and Thompson all cleared 15-9, but it was only Thompson to get over 16-3, giving him the win in epic fashion.
Thompson then barely missed at 16-7, which would have given him the state record. It was a great conclusion to his career. His PR headed into the outdoor was just 15-0.
On Saturday morning, it was time for the Katie Jones Show. The South Williamsport junior came in as the heavy favorite in AA girls after winning the Penn Relays competition and boasting a personal best of 13-3. Jones didn't disappoint. She cleared 13-0 to break the PIAA state record.
Jones kept the momentum going, clearing 13-4.5 to take second at New Balance Nationals Outdoor. All that's left for Jones to accomplish in her senior year is the state record: 13-6 by Easton's Lindsay Regan. If Jones' 2016 outdoor campaign proved anything, it's that that mark is certainly in her range. Watch her states interview below: