Continental High Graduate put her picture on the wall last Saturday as she finished 5th in the OHSAA Division III Girls Pole Vault State Finals. For the second State Track meet in a row the Pirates have had a girl place 5th with Katie Keller doing so in the 300M Hurdles in 2019. Collier cleared a height of 10’6″ to finish in a 3 way tie for 5th.
The Pole Vault Finals started at a height of 8′ and took out two of the 18 jumpers. Collier passed on this height. The bar was raised to 9′ where Shelby cleared it on her first attempt. The 9′ took out 1 competitor leaving 13 in the field. Moving the bar up another foot to 10′ saw Collier again clear on the first attempt and take out 4 more jumpers. The bar was raised 6″ this time to 10’6″ with 11 jumpers left. Collier again cleared the bar on her first attempt and 3 more jumpers were eliminated. This left 8 jumpers guaranteeing Shelby a place on the podium. The bar was raised to 11′ and Shelby was among the 4 that did not clear what would have been a new Continental record height. On the basis of misses this left Shelby in a 3-way tie for fifth place, good for 3 team points.
The Champion was also the 2019 Champion Kenna Stimmel of Margaretta. Stimmel passed till 12’4″ after all the rest of the field had been eliminated. Stimmel ended up clearing 13’6″ for a new Division III record.
Collier ends her Pirates career with a school record in the Pole Vault at 10’8″ set at the Tiffin Regional. Congratulations Shelby on a great finish to your record setting Pirate track career.
Emily Fuller coaches the Continental High Girls Track and Field team.
— Mike Jones, Sportswriter
