Star pole vaulters set sights on State success

By Luciano Marano • April 27, 2018 11:30 am
Photo courtesy of John Bierly | Bainbridge High School track and field team pole vault coach John Bierly, top left, stands with the pole vault squad, several of whom lead in the Metro standings and are predicted to have strong showings at State.
Photo courtesy of John Bierly | Bainbridge High School track and field team pole vault coach John Bierly, top left, stands with the pole vault squad, several of whom lead in the Metro standings and are predicted to have strong showings at State.

BAINBRIDGE – Success would seem to loom large for several Spartan pole vault stars.

Bainbridge High School star senior pole vaulters Emma Chee and Bo Baird came into this season hoping to qualify for the state track & field meet that each just missed last year. According to BHS pole vault coach John Bierly, “both athletes are ahead of schedule and have the potential to earn medals at the state meet held over Memorial Day weekend.”

Chee recently shattered her own school record of 10-foot-6 with a vault of 11-foot-9 and currently ranks second in state among all girl 3A division vaulters, Bierly said.

Baird recently recorded a personal best of 12-foot-6 and currently is the Metro League boys leader in the event.

“Emma, Bo and fellow senior Will Hobbs have been instrumental in coaching and developing new athletes, a number of whom have come from gymnastics and diving backgrounds,” Bierly said.

Leading newcomers include sophomores Keagan Daniels (No. 3 sophomore girl in Metro) and Hugh Forsythe (No. 2 sophomore boy).

The pole vault program is in its third year after being restarted in 2016 by BHS record holder Cheyne Clark and Bierly, a former University of Washington track competitor.

While Clark has since gone on to coach gymnastics in the Chicago area, the program has continued to flourish and has grown to include 13 active vaulters, the largest contingent of any Metro League school.