By John Jarvi
Local Sports Journal
The all-time list of West Michigan girls’ track leaders has a new record holder in the pole vault.
Bella LeRoux, a sophomore at Spring Lake High School, cleared 12-feet-four-and-three/quarters inches in March while competing in an indoor meet in New York City.
LeRoux and Landon Kemp of Greenville both cleared the same height in the Emerging Elite portion of the New Balance Nationals Indoor meet, but Kemp won the meet by having fewer misses.
Both earned a share of the meet record in the event, however, as the old mark for that category had been 12-feet-four-inches set in 2012.
LeRoux entered the competition at 11-feet-seven-inches and missed her first vault. She eventually cleared 12-feet-four-inch on her second try, and officials measured it at the earlier announced height.
The effort pushed Bella ahead of her older sister, Allie, on the all-time list of area pole vaulters. Allie LeRoux, a former Spring Lake athlete, had cleared an even 12-feet at the end of the 2014 season.
The Armory Track & Field Center in New York, N.Y., hosted the indoor nationals from March 13-15.
West Michigan’s all-time girls’ track records:
POLE VAULT — 12-4 3/4, indoors, Bella LeRoux, Spring Lake, 2015. 12-feet, outdoors, Allie LeRoux, Spring Lake, 2014. DISCUS — 147-10, Jane Ludtke, White Cloud, 1998. SHOT PUT — 8 lb.: 48- 3/4, Annette Bohach, North Muskegon, 1979; 4 kg.: 42- 4 1/2, Jane Ludtke, White Cloud, 1997. LONG JUMP — 18- 8 1/4, Shenitha Walker, Muskegon Heights, 1984. HIGH JUMP — 5-10, Kelly Oberlin, Grant, 1991. 100-METER DASH — 11.7, Cathy Fitzpatrick, Mona Shores, 1981, y.c. 200-METER DASH — 23.9, Cathy Fitzpatrick, Mona Shores, 1981, y.c. 400-METER DASH — 55.7, Cathy Fitzpatrick, Mona Shores, 1981. 800-METER RUN — 2:05.61, Becca Addison, Grand Haven, 2008. 1,600-METER RUN — 4:50.8, Becca Addison, Grand Haven, 2008. 3,200-METER RUN — 10:36.95, Becca Addison, Grand Haven, 2009. 100-METER HIGH HURDLES — 14.6, Sam Garrison, Spring Lake, 2003. 300-METER LOW HURDLES — 44.4, Blair Krohn, Grand Haven, 1987. 400-METER RELAY — 49.3, Muskegon Catholic Central, 1978, y.c., and Orchard View, 1981. 800-METER RELAY — 1:42.8, Muskegon Heights, 1984. 1,600-METER RELAY — 3:58.0, Muskegon, 1984. 3,200-METER RELAY — 9:29.8, Mason County Central, 2001.
NOTE: “y.c.” means conversion from a yard track.
