Jenn Suhr – 2013 - Best Year Ever with many 1st!

Jenn has been very fortunate and blessed with being ranked #1 in the World 2 years in a row (2011, 2012).  2013, has been even more successful both statistically and from a coach’s view.  Throughout the season, I have watched Jenn tackle many 1^st.

Being a Stat Guy I will keep it simple and give you “The Quick Stats”:

-          Recorded the 3 highest jumps in the World

-          Highest jump in the World indoors

-          A perfect undefeated Indoor Season

-          Broke Yelena Isinbayeva’s World Indoor Record by jumping 5.02 (16’5 ½)

-          Won World Championship Silver Medal

-          Highest jump in the World outdoors

In 2013, just 6 months after winning the Olympic Gold for Team USA, Jenn broke the World Record Indoors becoming the highest indoor vaulter the world has ever seen.  It was also 20cm higher than anyone else had jumped in the World for the indoor season.  I knew there was a possibility of a post Olympic letdown but she delivered with impact.  So in a years’ time, she won the Olympics, took Silver in Worlds and broke the World Record (which is the rarest and most coveted prize in all of pole vault).  Jenn started her season in January and finished at the end of August.  In that time frame, it was the first time she jumped over 4.90m (16’1) 3 times, set a World Record Indoors and won a World Silver Medal.  She was voted Track and Field News World athlete of the year this indoor season giving Jenn her best year long pedigree ever.  What a year for her, but more importantly, what a year for American pole vaulting!

But in the end, nothing really matters in pole vault except how high you jump.  It is the only thing that the pole vaulter can completely control.  In conclusion, we have been fortunate to lead the World 4 years in a row with the highest Outdoor jump. 

2013 was a great year!

                                                       2013 World’s Highest Vaults

1.	5.02i WR, WL	Jenn Suhr
2.	4.91 WL (outdoor)	Jenn Suhr
3.	4.90i Area Record	Jenn Suhr
4.	4.90	Yarisley Silva
5.	4.89	Yelena Isinbayeva

The Weather Hold Back

Not to appear as some old guy sitting back complaining about the weather but living in the Buffalo-Rochester area trying to train a World-Class Pole Vaulter, I am beginning to look like that old man sitting on the porch and constantly complaining about the weather and what is inadequate about it.  It started in January and February as we recorded the 6th and 7th coldest months ever in our history resulting in us trying to pole vault in conditions that were 'arctic like'.  So cold, that the heating system could not heat the place enough to get any kind of workouts in.

March was no better, and then we entered April hoping to see the sun in the first time in four months and get some outside training in.  We now found ourselves in the rainiest April ever recorded in the history of our area.  Instead of being outside, training, I found myself constantly jumping between two properties trying to keep the basements from flooding.  A task that has pleasantly transferred all the way to May. 

Still waiting  for warm weather, still waiting for some sunshine, and I basically need a canoe to get down the driveway to my training facility.  As for my world class pole vaulter, she is not like one of those old men sitting and complaining about the weather.  She is like one of those old ladies sitting and complaining about old men.