Girls' Pole Vault Preview
Pennsylvania girls have soared to new heights (literally) the past few years and they are showing no signs of stopping. Katie Jones took down the state record last winter and girls jumping over 12 feet in much larger quantities. On Sunday, two girls enter having already cleared 13 feet or better and five others have jumped 12 feet or better with a number of girls right on the cusp of the barrier.
Mackenzie Horn of Manheim Township comes in as the top seed and PA#1. Horn cleared a best of 13-3 this season, which stands at US#8 and PA#2 all-time (behind just Jones). Horn's only defeat came at the Millrose Games against a loaded field. After taking 11th at indoor states a year ago, Horn says she's been much healthier this winter and it could translate into a state crown.
The other 13-footer in the field is Abby Norwillo of Pittston Area. The senior jumped 13-0.5 earlier in the season and has won six meets. She was 10th last season, so like Horn, we can expect a big improvement at states this time around.
(EDIT: Norwillo also won the Eastern States championship, jumping a season/career best of 13-0.75)
Horn and Norwillo have faced off just once this season---at the Millrose Games---where Horn finished third (12-9.5) and Norwillo was fifth (12-5.5).
The top returner from last year's state meet is PA#4 Carena Nottoli of Hempfield. The senior was second a year ago and enters with a season best of 12-6. Her career best is 12-9 and she'll look to get back to that height and contend for the win on Sunday. PA#3 Lyndsey Reed of State College is having a strong season. She jumped an all-conditions best of 12-7 a few weeks on the same Penn State runway she'll return to on Sunday.
Morgan Gossard (Richland), Molly DeBone (Hempfield Area), and Hailey Zurich (Loyalsock) have all cleared season bests of 12-0 this winter. Each should be in the mix for high finishes this weekend. Western Wayne's Trina Barcarola and Spring Ford's Melissa Israel are tied at PA#8 with 11-9 jumps this season, and the pair will look to collect medals in the event by day's end.
Girls' Pole Vault Preview:
Event 31 Girls Pole Vault (16)
===============================================================================
Meet Record: 13-00.25 3/1/2008 Abby Schaffer, Easton Area
Name Year School
===============================================================================
1 Atkinson, Victoria 11 Scranton Prep
2 Barcarola, Trina 10 Western Wayne
3 Crane, Cierra 11 Central York
4 DeBone, Molly 12 Hempfield (7)
5 Gossard, Morgan 12 Richland
6 Grossman, Kendall 10 Moniteau
7 Heine, Danielle 11 Abing Heights
8 Horn, Mackenzie 12 Manheim Twp
9 Horn, Sydney 10 Manheim Twp
10 Israel, Melissa 11 Spring Ford
11 Krantz, Corah 11 Lakeland
12 Norwillo, Abby 12 Pittston Are
13 Nottoli, Carena 12 Hempfield (3
14 Plute, Lily 12 State College
15 Reed, Lyndsey 11 State College
16 Zurich, Hailey 11 Loyalsock Twp