May 7, 2008

HOUGHTON, N.Y. -- Five-time American champion pole vaulter Jenn Stuczynski cleared 15-3 (4.65 meters) at the Houghton (N.Y.) College Invitational track meet Saturday (May 3), the best height in the world so far this year. Stuczynski set the American record of 16-0 (4.88M) last summer. Stuczynski attempted a jump at 4.81M, but missed.

Despite posting the best jump of the season, Stuczynski was a bit disappointed. "I'm at a really good place [in my training right now] and that's what's unfortunate," she said, "because I don't think the results showed that."

"In these conditions, with the crosswind changing like that; that's a good jump," said Rick Suhr, Stuczynski's coach. "To do better would take the right pole, when the wind is right and everything comes together--and that's what we missed at 4.81 [meters]."

Stuczynski agreed: "There was a headwind and so there were some conditions to deal with, but, you know what? That's outdoor track, so I might as well start dealing with it early."

"It's the first meet of the year," Stuczynski said, "so I guess I'm  ironing some things out. It's very fixable. It's a good way to start, but I always want to jump higher than before, so I'm a little disappointed."

"Her training is going absolutely perfect right now," said Suhr, "and this is a nice opener...It's a low-key meet; not too much pressure, not too much hoopla. You can relax and compete. It's nice."

Suhr said Stuczynski was at Houghton to tune up for two meets in California that she'll compete at in May. "We always like to get a warm-up meet going into the big meets," he said.

"We saw it on the schedule and it's not far away at all," Stuczynski said, "We saw some of the results from the pole vault from other athletes and we knew it was a decent runway, too." Stuczynski also remembered the venue from when she had competed at Houghton as a collegian for Roberts Wesleyan College.

Suhr noted that the Olympic hopeful was training well. "It couldn't be much better," he said, "She's right where I would have planned  to have her for a perfect season, a  dream season. And she's healthy, that's a big thing, too."

After the meets in California, Stuczynski will start cycling up to peak for the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Or.--the pole vault competition will be held in early July.