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Jenn Suhr

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Jenn Suhr
Suhr at the 2012 Olympics
Personal information
Birth nameJennifer Lynn Stuczynski
Full nameJennifer Lynn Suhr
Born(1982-02-05)February 5, 1982(age 42)
Fredonia, New York,U.S.
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)[1]
Weight145 lb (66 kg)[1]
Spouse
​
(m.2010)​
Sport
CountryUnited States
SportTrack and field
EventPole vault
Retired2022
Achievements and titles
Olympic finals2008 Beijing,2012 London
World finals2008 Valencia,2016 Portland
National finals2005–2016 USA
Highest world ranking1st (2011)
Personalbest(s)outdoor: 4.92 m (16 ft 2 in)
(2009)
indoor: 5.03 m (16 ft 6 in)
(2016, WR)
Medal record
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2012 London Pole vault
Silver medal – second place 2008 Beijing Pole vault
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2013 Moscow Pole vault
World Indoor Championships
Gold medal – first place 2016 Portland Pole vault
Silver medal – second place 2008 Valencia Pole vault
Pan American Games
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Toronto Pole vault
Updated on June 24, 2022

Jennifer Lynn Suhr(néeStuczynski;born February 5, 1982) is an American formerpole vaulter.[2]She has been an Olympic and World champion, has been ranked #1 in the World, has been the #1 American pole vaulter since 2006, and has won a total of 17US National Championships(7 Indoor, 10 Outdoor). She holds theworld indoor pole vault recordat 5.03 m (16 ft 6 in). She holds theAmerican women's pole vault recordindoors. In 2008, she won theU.S. Olympic trials,setting an American record of 4.92 m (16 ft 2 in) and won a silver medal in theBeijing Olympics.She won the gold medal at theLondon Olympicson August 6, 2012.[3]Track & Field Newsnamed her American Female Athlete of the Year for 2008.

Biography

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Suhr was born to Mark and Sue Stuczynski, grocery store owners inFredonia, New York.The grocery store was previously owned by her grandfather, "Bunk" Stuczynski. She got involved in sports at a young age, playing softball at age 6. At 9, she competed in an adult golf league with her grandfather. AtFredonia High School,she played softball, basketball, soccer, and track and field, and won the New York Statepentathlontitle in 2000 as a senior.[4][5]

Suhr attendedRoberts Wesleyan UniversityinRochester, New York,where she competed in basketball and track and field. She averaged 24.3 points and 6.7 rebounds a game for Roberts Wesleyan in 2003–04, taking her team to theNCCAAnational championship game. She graduated as the school's all-time leading scorer in basketball with 1,819 points.

On January 3, 2010, Jenn married her coach,Rick Suhr,in Rochester.[6]

Pole vaulting career

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2004

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Jenn began pole vaulting with coachRick Suhr.

2005

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In the 2005USA Indoor Championshipsin Boston, Jenn Stuczynski entered as an unknown, unseeded competitor and won the US title having only trained for 10 months. She went on to set three personal bests, eventually clearing 4.35 m (14 ft3+1⁄4in) on her first attempt to leapfrog from a tie for third.[7]Later that indoor season she won theNAIAindoor national title in the pole vault.

2006

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Suhr began her career with her coachRick Suhrproviding financial support to her by re-mortgaging his home. Suhr started the 2006 indoor season with personal bests at nearly every meet and becoming the #2 American all time, behind onlyStacy Dragila,with her clearance of 4.68 m (15 ft 4 in). She captured her first USA Outdoor title with her winning clearance of 4.55 m (14 ft 11 in) at the 2006 AT&T USA Outdoor Championships. She finished third at the2006 World Athletics Final.

2007

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Suhr won the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Boston on February 25, 2007.

On May 20, 2007, Suhr broke the American outdoor pole vault record with a clearance of 4.84 m (15 ft 11 in) at theAdidas Track ClassicinCarson, California,beating the previous record set byStacy Dragilain 2004 by one centimeter.[8]

Two weeks later, at theReebok Grand Prixon June 2, 2007, Suhr cleared 4.88 m (16 ft 0 in), breaking the American record for a second time and becoming the second highest vaulter in history behind RussianYelena Isinbayeva.Suhr then attempted a new world record vault of 5.02 m (16 ft 6 in) – one centimeter higher than Isinbayeva's record at the time – but failed on three attempts at the height.[9]

Suhr took her second national outdoor title at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships inIndianapoliswith a vault of 4.45 m (14 ft 7 in), her only successful clearance of the competition[10]The victory secured Suhr a place on the US team for the2007 World Championships in Athletics,held inOsaka,Japan.Competing in her first major global championship, Suhr finished in 10th place in thefinal,with a 4.50 m (14 ft 9 in) clearance.

2008

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Suhr won the Indoor U.S. Nationals, which qualified her for the2008 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's pole vaultin Valencia, Spain, where she finished second on a countback toYelena Isinbayeva.Both cleared 4.75 m (15 ft 7 in).[11][12]

At the Adidas Track Classic on May 18, 2008, Suhr cleared 4.90 m (16 ft 1 in), breaking her own American record. She missed all three attempts at 5.02 m (16 ft 6 in), which would have been a world record. The U.S. Olympic Committee named her its female athlete of the month for May.[13]

At the U.S. Olympic Trials on July 6, 2008, Suhr cleared 4.92 m (16 ft 2 in), winning the trials and breaking her own American record.[14]

At theAviva Grand Prixon July 25, 2008, two women attempted the world record in the same meet for the first time. Both Suhr and Isinbayeva were unsuccessful.[15]

At theOlympicsinBeijingon August 18, 2008, Suhr finished second to Isinbayeva, clearing 4.80 m (15 ft 9 in). Isinbayeva broke her own world record with a jump of 5.05 m (16 ft 7 in).[16]Suhr finished with the silver medal and credited her coachRick Suhrfor his strict regimen in preparing her for the competitiveness and high stress of the Olympics.

2009

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She set a new American record on February 7, 2009, at theBoston Indoor Gameswhen she cleared 15 ft 9.75 in (4.82 m).[17]Suhr won each Visa Championship Meet and broke her own American record with a vault of 15 ft 10 in (4.83 m) at the US Indoor Nationals in Boston on March 1, 2009, giving her a 7th US Title.[18]

On July 1, 2009, she cleared 15 ft 3 in (4.65 m) at the2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championshipsin Oregon to win another American title.[19]Suhr was forced to withdraw from the US team for the2009 world championshipsinBerlinwith anAchilles tendoninjury.[20]

2010

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On June 27, 2010, Suhr won the USA Outdoor Gill Women's Pole Vault inDes Moines, Iowa,with a vault of 4.89 m (16 ft 1 in). It was her fifth consecutive US outdoor title and was the best mark by any woman vaulter in the world for 2010.[21][22]

2011

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On February 27, 2011, Suhr won her tenth national title overall with a win at the 2011USA Indoor Track and Field Championshipswith another national record clearance of 4.86 m (15 ft 11 in) for the indoor event.[23]Her run of five consecutive national outdoor titles was ended byKylie Hutsonat theUSA Outdoor Track and Field Championships,with Suhr finishing in second place with a 4.60 m (15 ft 1 in) vault.

Suhr cleared 4.91 m (16 ft 1 in) – the highest vault of the year – in Rochester, New York on July 26. She subsequently finished in fourth place at theworld championshipsinDaegu,South Koreawith a leap of 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in).

Suhr also tookDiamond Leaguevictories in London and Zurich during the season, defeating 2011 world championFabiana Murerand three other former world champions in the latter competition.[24]

Track & Field News ranked Suhr the number one women's pole vaulter in the world for 2011.

2012

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She opened 2012 with an American record clearance of 4.88 m at the Boston Indoor Grand Prix, re-establishing herself as the second highest female vaulter of all-time.[25]She won the USATF Indoor Championships in Albuquerque on Feb 25 with a vault of 4.63.[26]A meet record of 4.65 m followed in the outdoor season at theDrake Relaysin April.[27]

On June 24, Suhr won the Olympic Trials (and the United States Championships) to qualify for her second Olympic games.

On August 6, 2012, Jenn Suhr won the gold medal in the women's pole vault at theOlympic Games,defeatingCuba'sYarisley Silvaon countback after both competitors had cleared 4.75 m.

2013

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On March 2, 2013, Suhr brokeYelena Isinbayeva'sworld indoor record (set on February 23, 2012, inStockholm) at theUSA Indoor Track & Field ChampionshipsinAlbuquerque, New Mexico,with a vault of 5.02m (16 ft. 5.5 in.), becoming the 2nd woman in history to vault over 5 meters. Suhr won2013 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championshipsin 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in). Suhr earned silver medal at2013 World Championships in Athletics – Women's pole vaultin 4.82 m (15 ft9+3⁄4in).

2014

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Suhr earned silver medal at2014 USA Indoor Track and Field Championshipsin 4.66 m (15 ft3+1⁄4in). Suhr won2014 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championshipsin 4.60 m (15 ft 1 in). Suhr finished 5th in2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's pole vaultin 4.65 m (15 ft 3 in).

2015

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Suhr won2015 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championshipsin 4.82 m (15 ft9+3⁄4in).

2016

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Suhr broke her own women's indoor pole vault world record at aDivision IIItrack and field meet at theState University of New York at Brockporton January 30 with a jump of 5.03 m (16 ft 6 in).[28]
Suhr earned silver medal at2016 USA Indoor Track and Field Championshipsin 4.95 m (16 ft2+3⁄4in).
Suhr won gold medal at2016 World Indoor Championshipsin 4.90 m (16 ft3⁄4in) in a world indoor championship meet record.

Suhr won the 2016 USA Olympic Trials[29]and competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She came down with a severe illness prior to the competition, and although she passed through the first day of qualifying without a problem, she finished in seventh place, below initial expectations. Doctors were never able to identify the cause of Suhr's symptoms.[30]

2022

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Suhr announced her retirement in June 2022. Over the course of her career, Jenn Suhr won 17 USA National Championships, 7 indoor and 10 outdoor which included every outdoor national championship from 2006 to 2016 except for 2011.

Sponsorship

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In 2006 Suhr signed a 4-year sponsorship with Adidas. In August 2007, Suhr was signed as a brand spokesperson forNutrilite,a brand of vitamin, mineral and dietary supplements.[31]

Awards and honors

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Track & Field Newsnamed Suhr the American Female Athlete of the Year for 2008. No male vaulter has ever won the American honor and the only other female winner wasStacy Dragilain 2001.[32]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ab"Jennifer Suhr".teamusa.org.USOC.Archived fromthe originalon October 25, 2015.RetrievedNovember 11,2020.
  2. ^"Interview: Jenn Suhr"(PDF).Track & Field News.January 2019.
  3. ^Phillips, Luke (August 6, 2012)"Suhr eclipses Isinbayeva to win pole vault gold".AFP.
  4. ^"Riga's Jenn Stuczynski vaults onto world stage",Democrat and Chronicle,August 3, 2008.
  5. ^Fredonia High School State Champions.fredonia.wnyric.org
  6. ^Jenn Stuczynski now Jenn Suhr!polevaultpower.com, January 12, 2010
  7. ^Events – 2005 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships.USATF. Retrieved on August 19, 2013.
  8. ^Post Journal article
  9. ^Crouse, Karen (June 3, 2007)"Vaulter Gives Up College but Quickly Learns to Excel",NY Times.
  10. ^Women Pole Vault.Usatf.org. Retrieved on August 19, 2013.
  11. ^"IAAF World Indoor Championships, Valencia, March 8, 2008"
  12. ^Zinser, Lynn (June 29, 2008)"From Out of Nowhere, a Vaulter Is on Cusp of the Olympics",NY Times.
  13. ^U.S. Olympic Committee honors Stuczynski, Observer, June 26, 2008.Observertoday.com. Retrieved on August 19, 2013.
  14. ^U.S. record falls in women's pole vault, The Oregonian, July 6, 2008.Oregonlive.com. Retrieved on August 19, 2013.
  15. ^"Stuczynski finishes second at meet in London",Rochester Democrat and Chronicle,July 26, 2008
  16. ^2008 Beijing Olympics on NBC – Women's Pole Vault FinalsArchivedAugust 17, 2008, at theWayback Machine
  17. ^Stuczynski Sets New Pole Vault RecordSI.com, February 7, 2009
  18. ^"USA Track & Field – View".USATF.Usatf.org.RetrievedAugust 5,2012.
  19. ^"Rodgers and Stuczynski again take top medalist honors",NAIA, July 1, 2009
  20. ^"U.S. record holder Jenn Stuczynski withdraws from pole vault",The Oregonian, August 11, 2009
  21. ^Pole Vault 2010.IAAF.Retrieved on March 1, 2011.
  22. ^"Oliver, Cantwell, Spearmon & Suhr dominate as USA Outdoor Championships conclude",USATF, June 27, 2010, retrieved June 28, 2010
  23. ^Lee, Kirby (February 28, 2011).National records for Camarena-Williams and Suhr top seven world leads in Albuquerque – USA indoor champs WRAP.IAAF.Retrieved on March 1, 2011.
  24. ^Suhr triumphs at Weltklasse meet in Zurich.The Buffalo News.Retrieved on May 21, 2012.
  25. ^Morse, Parker (February 5, 2012).Suhr scales 4.88m national record in Boston.IAAF. Retrieved on February 5, 2012.
  26. ^2012 USATF Indoor Championships[1]
  27. ^Dunaway, Jim (April 29, 2012).Spearmon, Lowe and Wilson break meet records at Drake Relays.IAAF. Retrieved on May 3, 2012.
  28. ^"5.07m 'didn't feel that high' by Suhr's new standards | FEATURE | World Athletics".
  29. ^results-2016-us-olympic-team-trials-track-and-field[2]
  30. ^"Jenn Suhr" still has the fire ", ready to pole vault again".September 13, 2016.
  31. ^Team Nutrilite – Sponsored Athletes.teamnutrilite.quixtar.com
  32. ^DiVeronica, Jeff (January 10, 2009)"Stuczynski named Female Athlete of Year by 'Track & Field News'",Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
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