Watkins’ Victoria Harvey in rarefied air among Ohio pole vaulters

On Apr 2, 2023

PATASKALA — Victoria Harvey’s junior season ended on a high note, and the Watkins Memorial senior track star simply has climbed higher in the 10 months since.

Harvey was the Division I state runner-up in the pole vault last June, and nothing has slowed her since. After an offseason of work with Buckeye Pole Vault Academy, she won the event in the Division I indoor state championships and carries the state’s best outdoor vault through the first week after resetting her school record at 13 feet in a dual against Northridge last Tuesday.

“I know when I was younger I didn’t like (a high ranking), but this year it’s been pushing me to push myself to get out of my comfort zone,” Harvey said.

Watkins Memorial senior Victoria Harvey clears the bar in the pole vault during the Watkins Icebreaker on Saturday, April 1, 2023. Harvey won the event with a height of 12-feet-6.

Harvey cleared a then-best 12-8 to earn that silver medal at last year’s state championships and bumped that up to 12-9 in the indoor finale last month. She has rarely taken step back since even refusing to let high winds get the best of her Saturday.

Harvey had a strong showing, clearing 12-6 to win the title during the Watkins Icebreaker on her home track. Harvey took three runs through wind gusts well over 30 mph at 13-1, but she could never get up on her pole.

“It was just a little crazy today. I got on my biggest pole today — the biggest pole I have ever touched — and I was still somewhat blowing through it because the wind was pushing me right into the bar. I just kind of had to deal with that,” Harvey said.

Raising the bar yet again could wait another day.

“My last three attempts at 13-1, I would be running down the runway and just get blown to the side,” she added. “My brain just told me, ‘This isn’t right.’ I don’t want to get injured. I am going to definitely learn from today.”

Harvey’s competition Saturday included close friends Sophia Bartels and Lainey Mack, each of Pickerington North, and Worthington Kilbourne’s Mirabelle Thornton. Bartles cleared 12-0 first and put a little pressure on Harvey, but it was nothing she could not handle.

“It definitely pushes me a lot more than if I was on my own,” Harvey said. “If I see another girl clear a bar, it’s like, ‘OK, it’s go time. Let’s make this.'”

Lakewood senior Landry Driskel is a fellow returning All-Ohioan after placing seventh in last season’s Division II discus, and she continues to set a new standard for herself.

Driskel won her signature event Saturday with a best of 116-4. That came two days after throwing a personal-best 127-2 in a quad at Sheridan.

“I am really focusing on my ending. Once I get my ending down, I will be able to add a few extra feet because once you carry your acceleration through the ring, it will get some juice on there for sure,” Driskel said.

Round numbers are logical goals, and Driskel is not far off 130. She also is nearing the school record of 133-10.

Driskel moved up from ninth at state as a sophomore to earning that seventh-place medal last June. She has not yet announced a college decision, but nearing one, she said anxiety has subsided, which could allow her to step higher this season.

“I hope to break the school record and after that see what I have in store for myself,” said Driskel, who also took runner-up in Saturday’s shot put (33-2). “It’s definitely more fun this year. I feel I have so much less pressure.”

Johnstown junior Reece Savage won the 5,000 (19:54.01), and Watkins senior Cameryn Wheeler came from behind to match her in the 800 (2:31.39). Lakewood senior Addison Pound was runner-up to Wheeler in the 800 (2:34.22), and the Watkins foursome of seniors Harvey, Lindsey Castillo, Madeline Daugherty and junior Morgan Kandel took runner-up in the 400 relay (53.41).

Johnstown senior Rose Pasqualetti took third in the 100 hurdles (18.43), and adding fourth-place finishes were junior teammate Kate Ruffle in the long jump (15-1), Lakewood sophomore Aubrey Howell in the high jump (4-10) and Watkins sophomore Emily Whitmer in the 5,000 (20:51.77).

Kirk finishes on top

Andrew Kirk was jumping for joy after a personal best in the shot put. The best was yet to come for the Watkins Memorial junior.

Kirk threw 123-2 to win the discus, highlighting Saturday’s boys meet as he won his first invitational title. He earlier in the day hit 41 feet in the shot put for the first time.

“I am so excited to win. It’s been a big goal,” Kirk said. “Obviously with the weather, it was kind of a difficult day, but you just have to adapt.”