A year ago, we were raving about Justin Rogers and his meteoric rise to stardom - but this year, the Pennsylvania girls' Pole Vaulters took center stage at the New Balance Nationals Indoor Championships.
Throughout the season - Pennsylvania displayed prowess in the Pole Vault. At the time of this writing - four Pennsylvania girls' are ranked inside the USA Top-15; Veronica Vacca, Maddy Kelley, Katie Urbine, and Kirstin Hoffman.
All four also competed in the Girls' Pole Vault Championship flights at New Balance Nationals.
Sophomore Veronica Vacca (Mount Saint Joseph) won the 2022 Nike Indoor National Championship, so she entered this year's New Balance Championship in a title defense.
She was nearly flawless in that effort. She cleared her first five heights without mistake. At 4.05 meters, she failed on her first attempt before making it on her second. She and fellow Pennsylvanian Maddy Kelley (Villa Maria) would be the last vaulters at 4.15 meters (13-7.25).
Vacca would clear it on her first attempt - and, in doing so, win yet another National Championship.
Kelley would land in second with her jump of 13-3.5.
Katie Urbine (Solanco), the reigning PTFCA State Champion, cleared 12-5.5 for fourth place, and Kirstin Hoffman (Kennett) finished in ninth with her jump of 12-5.5. The difference in position was due to attempts.
Vacca now moves into sole possession of the PA No. 3 All-Time rank. As a sophomore, she is putting the Pennsylvania INdoor Record of 13-10 on watch.
All four of the Pole Vaulters mentioned in this story rank inside the PA Top 10 All-Time.
PA Top 10 All-Time
| RANK | MARK | ATHLETE/TEAM | GRADE | MEET DATEPLACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13-10 | 2021 | PJC- Meet #41st F | |
| 2 | 13-9.25 | 2017 | ||
| 3 | 13-7.25 | 2025 | ||
| 4 | 13-6 | 2020 | ||
| 4 | 13-6 | 2024 | DVGTCA Meet #41st F | |
| 4 | 13-6 | 2023 | ||
| 7 | 13-3 | 2018 | ||
| 8 | 13-2.5 | 2008 | ||
| 9 | 13-2.25 | 2020 | ||
| 10 | 13-2 | 2023 |