Latest news with #polevault
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
'It's been a journey.' Central Catholic athlete thanks supporters after 3rd straight state title
CHARLESTON, Illinois (WMBD) – It was a historic Saturday at the 130th IHSA Boys State Track and Field meet at Eastern Illinois. A Central Illinois athlete broke an all-time record. Bloomington Central Catholic's Isaiah Whitaker set a new IHSA mark in the pole vault, leaping 17 feet, 6.5 inches. But it was also the Saint Junior's third consecutive state championship in the 1A pole vault. Whitaker is a young man who's thankful for those who have pushed him along the way. It means a lot. Just knowing that I can come here and consistently compete and get the job done, get points for my team and help my team out, it's just great. I'd like to thank my coaches and everyone out there supporting me. It's been a journey and I'd like to thank them all Isaiah Whitaker Whitaker's win helped push Central Catholic to a top ten team finish in the 1A boys standings. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Globe and Mail
7 days ago
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
Politics not a factor for Canadian athletes chasing their varsity dreams in the U.S.
Despite its challenges, the dream of going to a Division 1 school in the United States was too great for Liam Miller. The pole vaulter from Milton, Ont., who turns 19 on Saturday, is committed to Wichita State University for the 2025-26 year. He recently wrapped up a postgrad year at Spire Academy in Geneva, Ohio, after receiving 21 D1 offers. Though a few classmates joked about Canada being the 51st state during his time at Spire, Miller said the ribbing didn't bother him – or influence his decision. 'Politics never really came into place,' he said. 'Being on a university campus, you're already in sort of a more progressive-leaning place. You're kind of in this academic bubble with a lot of kind-hearted people, and it really never came into play with me. 'It has always been my dream to go to an NCAA Division 1 school,' he added. 'My parents knew that and they've been very supportive throughout the whole way. … Getting a full scholarship is really hard. And I was so fortunate to have received an amazing scholarship from Wichita State.' Brett Montrose, founder and co-CEO of Streamline Athletes, a company that helps high-school track and field athletes get recruited, said it's too early to tell if strained Canada-U.S. relations will play a part in recruiting decisions. 'From a Canadian student-athlete and family perspective, we are not at a point yet where we're seeing many or any repercussions of the political tensions between Canada and the States on their decision making about where to go to school,' he said. 'That's because anybody committing or signing with American or Canadian universities in 2025 likely began their recruitment process before the tensions were at anything close to the height that they are now between the two countries.' For fellow Canadian track and field athletes, Brooklyn Taylor (Connecticut) and Shadae Thompson (Purdue), politics didn't play a factor. The landscape of NCAA sports has changed drastically over the last few years, especially due to the transfer portal. But for Miller, the bigger hurdles were new roster limits and rising international tuition costs that schools now have to factor in. Track and field teams, he explained, are capped at 45 athletes on full scholarship, with no walk-ons allowed. That's led many programs to shed athletes instead of adding more. In addition, his parents will need to help out financially. 'I will be having to pay for a few things,' Miller said. 'They're helping me a lot and I'm very fortunate for that.' Taylor, a hurdler and long jumper from Alliston, Ont., also attended Spire for Grade 12 – but her recruitment process unfolded a little differently. A former competitive dancer, she didn't fully commit to track and field until Grade 11, when she 'really started training' and let dance take a back seat. Already drawing interest from schools in Grade 11, her stock rose once she cracked the U.S. top 15 in the long jump and 60-metre hurdles. Still, like Miller, scholarship offers played a big role in her final decision. 'A lot of the times … the international athletes did still have to pay a decent amount just because of exchange rates,' said Taylor, who received about 30 offers from schools at various levels. 'But I mean, I was lucky. My coaches were really good to work with. I also work really hard on my academics. 'I've maintained a high 90 [per cent] average throughout the entirety of my high-school career. So a lot of the times these coaches aren't even pulling from their sports scholarship money to send me on a full ride sort of thing. They're able to kind of use more academic side of things and keep the sports scholarship amounts for the more academically challenged athletes on their rosters.' Thompson, a sprinter from Whitby, Ont., stayed in Canada for high school at All Saints Catholic Secondary School in her hometown. She received three D1 offers – Marshall University, the University of New Mexico and Purdue. While she will have everything covered at Purdue, she noted the school's use of two-year plans instead of four. 'After two years, if you're performing well, they'll keep you for another two years,' Thompson said. 'So then that would be like your quote, unquote four-year plan. 'But if you're underperforming after those two years, then they have the right to kick you out. And from then on, you've got to figure it out on your own. So I'm kind of on a partial scholarship, you could say, but it's basically a full.'
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pole vaulting in the street, competing for native Austria on District 3 champ's bucket list
She dreams of flying high in the maroon and white uniform of Texas A&M. Of competing in pole vault events held on city streets. Of wearing the red and white of her birth nation in an Olympics. The first is in Lily Carlson's immediate future. The next two might not be far behind. Advertisement The Bermudian Springs senior is the top seed in the PIAA Class 3A pole vault competition after clearing 14 feet at the District 3 meet. It is her first time competing in Class 3A after winning the PIAA Class 2A title the past two seasons. The state meet, May 23-24 at Shippensburg University, is her last in high school competition. Then she begins working on the rest of the list. Austria is first. She was born in Vienna and lived in Austria until she was 7 years old, when she came to the United States with her American mom. Her dad remained in his native Austria. Carlson will be spending a big chunk of the summer training in Europe. Advertisement 'Half my trip I'll be in Vienna,' she said. 'And then I'm hoping to go to Innsbruck and train at a club there. They have another girl that jumps like 13-9, and she's also going to A&M.' National signing day: See where York-Adams student-athletes are playing sports in college Bermudian Springs' Lily Carlson clears 14 feet in the 3A pole vault competition at the PIAA District 3 Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University's Seth Grove Stadium Saturday, May 17, 2025. She laughs at the idea that Texas A&M will have two native Austrian freshman pole vaulters. Magdalena Rauter is the future Aggie Carlson hopes to connect with in Innsbruck. Rauter is the Austrian national champion and world U20 silver medalist. 'They have fully funded athletes there,' Carlson said. 'In Austria, they actually are like professional athletes and get paid. Track's just bigger, pole vault is bigger.' Advertisement And they really do shut down streets so they can lay runways and set up pole vault standards to have competitions in their cities. Carlson's eyes light up when she thinks of the possibilities. Those possibilities include challenging for a spot on the Austrian Olympic team. It's a long process that starts with qualifying for the European championships. Austrian hasn't had a pole vaulter in the European competition since 2014. Bermudian Springs' Lily Carlson smiles after finishing her day with a gold medal and a new district record in the 3A pole vault at the PIAA District 3 Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University's Seth Grove Stadium Saturday, May 17, 2025. The top vaulters from the European championships qualify for the Olympics, regardless of their country. Australian Nina Kennedy won the gold medal in Paris after clearing 4.90 meters (16.076 feet). An American and Canadian won the silver and bronze. Advertisement Clearing 14-0 for the first time in a competition was a positive step toward those Olympic dreams. '14 is a big bar, a huge milestone of mine,' Carlson said. 'It feels really good to finally clear that. I've known I can clear it, but to see that bar stay standing, I'm really excited.' Carlson had three attempts at the state record 14-3, and nearly had it on her second try. She cleared it, but tapped the bar on her way down. She'll get another shot at that record in the state meet when she goes up against defending champ Veronica Vacca of Mt. St. Joseph's, who comes in as the second seed at 13-8, although she has cleared 14-0 in competition. Bermudian Springs' Lily Carlson celebrates with her friends and fellow competitors after setting a new district record in the 3A pole vault at the PIAA District 3 Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University's Seth Grove Stadium Saturday, May 17, 2025. Carlson will have many of her training partners in the pole vault area with her at the state meet because they qualified through the District 3 competition. Having that kind of support, the friends who stand in a line with their hands clasped together as you soar to new heights, is vital to Carlson. Advertisement 'I've been training with them for the past few years,' she said. 'Vault Worx has been like a second home, a second family and we are all super close. We're always celebrating each other. 'We understand pole vault is such a hard and intense sport that we're always cheering each other on.' Having a support system like that to lean on is even more important at events like district and state meets, when communicating with coaches is difficult at best. Technology and coaches are not allowed on the infield, so athletes have to communicate through hand signals and shouts across the track as races are run. Carlson will have some additional support at this year's state meet. Her father will be on hand to see her compete in person for the first time since she was a freshman. Advertisement 'He has seen videos, but nothing in person,' she said. 'He's going to help me with my German, and we're going to get rolling.' Let the dreams begin. Shelly Stallsmith covers York-Adams high school sports for GameTimePA and the USAToday Network. Connect with her by email mstallsmith@ or on X, formerly Twitter, @ShelStallsmith. This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: PIAA track and field: Pole vault champ has lofty goals after last meet
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bermudian Springs' Lily Carlson adds Class 3A state title, PIAA record to resume
Bermudian Springs senior Lily Carlson waited longer than it took for her to win her third PIAA gold medal. Because she passes through the lower heights, she's used to waiting for a while. She relaxes, talks with other competitors who are also her closest friends. She goes through her pole vault journal. Advertisement The competition took a wet turn just as Carlson was beginning to start her warmup routine. And then the clouds grew dark and the rain fell. The tarps came out and talks began about moving the event inside Shippensburg University's Heiges Field House. By the time grounds crew brought out blowers to dry off the runway, the rain came again. It took about 90 minutes before athletes were jumping again. Officials made the decision to wipe the slate clean for girls who had to vault in pouring rain before action was suspended. That included defending champion Veronica Vacca, who opted to start her competition at 12-0. She missed three straight tries and ended up no-heighting. All before Carlson had taken her first jump. Bermudian Springs' Lily Carlson celebrates after setting a state record in the 3A pole vault (14-0.25) during the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University on Friday, May 23, 2025. "I definitely missed out on competing with her," Carlson said of going against Vacca. "I was really looking forward to jumping against her." Advertisement Nineteen minutes after the defending champion and record holder was eliminated, Carlson cleared 12-6 on her first attempt. Six minutes later the last competitor exhausted her attempts and Carlson had won a Class 3A title to go with two Class 2A gold medals. She might have lucked out by waiting to jump because she hadn't started to warm up. She was able to maintain her regular routine instead of having her flow interrupted. Carlson, who will compete at Texas A&M in the fall, completes her career with three District 3 pole vault championships, records in Class 2A and 3A, one Class 2A 100 hurdles title and three PIAA pole vault gold medals. Bermudian Springs' Lily Carlson celebrates after setting a state record in the 3A pole vault (14-0.25) during the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University on Friday, May 23, 2025. And one PIAA record. Advertisement That came on her third attempt at 14-0.25 that broke Vacca's record of 14-0. When it was all said and done, and she missed three attempts to extend the record for 14-3, she credited her friends and people in the stands with helping her make history. "The crowd was absolutely amazing," Carlson said. "I love the excitement. I love the encouragement and everything. It helped me keep up my speed and do what I need to do." More on Carlson: Pole vaulting in the street, competing for native Austria on District 3 champ's bucket list Jumping to gold: New Oxford's Brayden Billman snares first state gold in Class 3A triple jump Advertisement Carlson said everything kind of stops when she clears a height. She sees the bar, hears the crowd and feels the energy. When she cleared 14-0.25, she looked to her family in the stands, her coaches along the fence then ran to her friends. It was clear as she met with media after the medal ceremony that the titles and medals weren't on the horizon when she started on this journey as a freshman. "When I came to VaultWorx after my freshman year, my coach was like, 'yeah, you're going to jump 13 feet. That's going to be the bar to get,'" she said with a laugh. "And then last year, it was 14. So it's been a process. When I started I had no idea what I was getting into. I thought I was terrible for the first year. "And then it all kind of came together. It's been absolutely phenomenal." Advertisement Asked when she thought she will come down from this high, she thinks maybe a week. Before it happens though, there will be celebratory chocolate ice cream and various desserts. And graduation. After that, she's off to new challenges and new heights. This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Bermudian Springs Lily Carlson breaks PIAA pole vault record
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Caudery wins pole vault at Diamond League in Doha
Britain's Molly Caudery began her 2025 outdoor season with victory in the pole vault at the Diamond League meeting in 25-year-old cleared 4.75m in warm and windy conditions at the Suheim bin Hamad Stadium in Qatar to finish top of the Roberta Bruni of Italy nor USA's Katie Moon could clear the height as they finished second and third with vaults of 4.63m."I absolutely have a lot of fire in me and that's a good thing ahead of the new season," said won the World Indoor title last year to become Britain's first world champion in the Caudery failed to make the final of the event at last summer's Olympic Games in Paris. In the 1500m, Scotland's Jemma Reekie finished a credible third with a time of four minutes 7.33 seconds as Nelly Chepchirchir strode clear in 4:05.00, ahead of Kenyan team-mate Susan Amy Hunt finished third in the 100m in a time of 11.03 as she took .09 seconds off her personal race was won by Tia Clayton, who outshone two-time Olympic 100m champion and Jamaican compatriot Shelly-Ann 38-year-old Fraser-Pryce was competing on the Diamond League circuit for the first time in three years, but could only finish fourth as Clayton, 20, won easily in a world-leading time of twin sister Tina was second in 11.02, while Fraser-Pryce, competing in possibly her final season, clocked a season's best 11.05 for men's Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo produced a lacklustre performance for success in his signature event as he was almost caught on the line by Courtney Tebogo ran a smooth bend but seemed to lack fluency in the home straight and glanced to his right at Lindsey as he crossed the line in a modest 20.10, one hundredth of a second ahead of the the men's 800m, Tshepiso Masalela chased down Wycliffe Kinyamal to clock 1:43.11, the fastest time in the world this Lawrence Okoye finished sixth in the discus with a throw of 65.01m, while fellow Briton Laviai Nielsen finished seventh in the 400m with a time of 52.02.
