LYNDONVILLE, New York — There’s an old cliche about setting the bar high when establishing one’s goals but when that saying is applied to pole vaulter Jenn Suhr, it’s meaning is both figurative and literal. Suhr, of Kendall, 2012 Olympic gold medalist and world indoor record holder in women’s pole vault, attempted to clear the best outdoor height in the world this year, 16 feet, 1 inch, on Friday night, but was unsuccessful. Suhr won the event when she vaulted successfully at 15 feet, 7 inches on her first attempt at that height Friday. Suhr landed on her back on the cushions, sat there for a moment, then looked up at the bar as if to check if it was still in place. It was the same height at which she won her gold medal last year in London. She failed three times Friday to clear 16 feet, 1 inch. Suhr and five other women vaulters competed on apparatus set up at White Birch Country Club. Suhr’s husband and coach, Rick Suhr, organized the free event, which also featured Medina native Janice Keppler. Keppler, 26, is sponsored by Team Pacer and has the fourth-highest outdoor vault in the country this year. Keppler cleared the bar on her third attempt at 14 feet, 7 inches, and finished second to Suhr. Linda Hadfield came in third when she failed three times at 14 feet, the minimum height required to compete in the Olympic qualifiers. Suhr passed on all the attempts until the bar was placed at 15 feet. She cleared that easily on her first try and then was successful at 15 feet, 7 inches. Others in Friday’s contest were Claire Dishong of Brockport, three time all Ivy League competing for Cornell University; Erin Champion of the University of Tennessee, top freshman in the Southeastern Athletic Conference and Hadfield of New York Mills, two-time All American and teammate of Champion’s at the University of Tennessee. Suhr, a Fredonia native, and Heather Hamilton, the top-rated women’s pole vaulter in Canada, rounded out the field.
Hamilton is sponsored by the Royal Bank of Canada.
Suhr, a graduate of Roberts Wesleyan College where she was a star basketball player, is sponsored by adidas. She did not take up pole vaulting until she graduated from college.
Suhr, 31, said afterward she was confident of reaching 16 feet 1 inch but competed on tired legs.
“The height was there all day. It was the (lack of) timing of it,” she said.
Suhr said she started her intense training sessions in April and will continue it into August.
“A long season to stay in shape, and not eat dessert,” Suhr said.
She usually scales back her workouts as she readies herself for major competitions but didn’t do so prior to Friday’s event.
“This is something that’s fun to do,” she said.
Keppler said it was fun to compete in front of family and friends.
“It just kind of made it special. I was just so excited there was so many people here,” she said.
“There’s nothing like jumping on a golf course,” Keppler joked.
Keppler, who is Suhr’s training partner, was asked why so many top-level pole vaulters are from Western New York.
“I think it has a lot to do with what Rick and Jenn have done,” she said.
Suhr said success helps generate interest.
“I think when people see it, they are inspired by it,” she said.
Friday’s sanctioned competition took place on the fairway of White Birch’s second hole. An elevated runway was set up for the women to make their approach to the vault pit.
Several hundred people watched. The biggest rounds of applause were for Suhr and Keppler.
One of the spectators was Wes Bradley, retired Lyndonville High School track coach.
“Awesome, amazing for Lyndonville,” he said.
Richard Frank of Rochester was at White Birch with his wife, Lynn.
“This is terrific, to have the gold medalist,” he said.
Frank said he’s watched pole vaulting in the past but not at an elite level.
“That was exciting,” he said, as Suhr cleared 15 feet, 7 inches.
Suhr holds 11 national records and earned 13 titles. She also won a silver medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.
The Franks have a cottage on Lake Ontario and were invited to Friday’s competition by their neighbors, Tom and Sue Weber of Lyndonville.
“Awesome, can’t beat it,” Mr. Weber said of the competition.
“Small town, world class event, unbelievable. I’ve always been a fan of pole vaulting,” he said.
Another pole vault competition is slated for June 7 at White Birch Country Club. The rain date is June 9. more
