by Larry Eder
Jenn Suhr is a pole vault prodigy. She cleared 4.60m only after thirteen months of pole vaulting. She won her first US title just months after that. And in 2008, Jenn Suhr cleared 4.92m/16-01.75, the first American women to clear sixteen feet and the second highest vaulter of all times. She won the Olympic silver medal in 2008 in Beijing.
As with all great athletes, Jenn has had challenges. She has fought injuries for the past two years, and she is now getting healthy once again. She discovered a gluten intolerance that was causing her energy issues in the early summer. She fought back from some terrible back and stomach spasms over the past two months.
In August, Jennifer won the pole vault at the AVIVA London Grand Prix, and just before that, cleared 4.91m/16-1.25, the highest vault of the year.
This morning, Day 2, Session 1 of the World champs (August 28, 2011), Jenn missed her first two attempts at 4.50m, then cleared 4.50m and then 4.55m on her first attempt, all she needed to make the final.
Anyone of six vaulters can win this one and the medals should come from this pool too. “There are some great vaulters out there, and Jenn will just have to perform,” noted coach Rick Suhr.
In that light, Jenn ‘s video is pretty fascinating, check it out, as it was done at the adidas press conference on Friday night, August 26, 2011.
