Medina Journal-Register — LYNDONVILLE, New York — In 2012 Western New York’s Jen Suhr added the phrase “Olympic Gold Medalist” to the front of her name. Friday night, she was among a group of six pole vaulters to participate in the New York Invitational Series at Lyndonville’s White Birch Golf Course. The course owner, Harold Suhr, is Jen’s brother-in-law. He said after she won gold in London last year discussions began about the possibility of a local event. Now that Jen and Rick Suhr (Harold’s brother) have a home in Kendall, they made the time to fit in a local meet. The fact that it was on a golf course? That did not seem to matter to the competitors who participated. In total, six ladies tried to clear the bar. They were Claire Dishong (Cornell), Erin Champion and Linda Hadfield (Tennessee), Heather Hamilton (Canada), Suhr, and Medina native Janice Keppler. Keppler said the event had a unique feel. “The atmosphere here was really special,” she said. “I loved how the people were so close and could really get into the event.” Though no official number was given, rough estimates had the crowd numbering at least 300. Keppler said she had competed in many larger events, but none on a golf course. “This is definitely a first,” she said. Another benefit for Keppler was the ability to have her family and friends watch her compete. As farmers, she said her parents often have a hard time getting away to see her pole vault at national competitions. Friday’s friendly meet was a chance for them to buck that trend. As for Suhr, she said the benefit to her was a way to continue training in a meet setting. She said she started her training in April and will continue competing through August. “It’s a long season to stay in shape,” she said. “It’s also a long time to not eat dessert,” she added with a smile, alluding to just how serious an athlete one must be to win an Olympic medal. Bringing the event to Lyndonville, Suhr said, was something that just worked with her schedule. Two more pole vault meets are scheduled for next weekend and the following weekend. Suhr said she would probably compete in one of them, but could not commit officially because here schedule could change.
Still, she said pole vaulting on the second fairway was fun and it was a nice way to showcase the sport.
“This was a good way for people to enjoy the sport that we love so much,” she said.
For some of her competition, though, it was a good way to gain experience and perform at the same venue as someone at the top her game.
Hadfield, a Utica native who trained in Ithaca with Rick Suhr, said she suggested her teammate (Champion) after an invitation. She said it was worth the drive up from Knoxville.
“This was the best runway I’ve ever run on,” she said. “Raised runways are great.”
Champion, a Knoxville native, said she had never traveled north of New York City before. To do so and compete with Suhr was an honor.
“It’s pretty big to be included in an event like this,” she stated.
Both ladies said the meet was some of the most fun they had ever had while pole vaulting because of the atmosphere. Hadfield said most pole vaulters generally are “pretty friendly” towards each other, anyway.
“We’re at the tail end of the competition,” Hadfield said, “but it’s awesome just to compete with these girls and we’re happy just to watch them.”
Deshong, originally from Brockport, said she had participated in other unique locations but that a golf course was a first. The uniqueness, she explained, probably helped draw the decent crowd.
“It was a fabulous crowd,” she said. The relative smallness of the event and the fact that only pole vaulting took place made it easier to focus, too, she noted.
This weekend, according to Rick Suhr, the crowd may increase because the state qualifying track meets were held this past weekend. Many local high school athletes could make their way to Lyndonville to see a world class vaulter, he said.
“We’ll also have more time to get the word out,” he said. “Today we had good numbers and that was only with a few days of preparation.”
Suhr said it was likely that his Gold-Medal-winning wife would compete this weekend rather than fly to an event in Europe because “it’s always better to train and compete at home.” more
