Greenwood pole vaulter Amy Luttrell established a personal best by clearing 11 feet, 6 inches at last week’s regional meet. Daily Journal file photo
Daily Journal file photo
The fact that Amy Luttrell is her school’s girls record holder in the pole vault as a sophomore never fails to impress.
Owning it by a whole two feet takes it to different levels.
Luttrell, one of four Greenwood athletes qualified for the girls state meet on Friday, is seeded fourth in her specialty along with a trio of other competitors — Zionsville’s Kennedy Merrell and the Plainfield duo of Zoe Arvanitis and Mackenzie VanBibber.
At last week’s Franklin Regional, Luttrell placed first with a career-best height of 11 feet, 6 inches.
As a freshman, her best was 9 feet, still short of the Woodmen girls standard of 9-6.
“Last year, I qualified for regional and placed ninth. I was happy with that because I wasn’t expecting to get past sectional,” Luttrell said. “This year at regional, I was a lot more confident because I had been training for a year.
“I take a weightlifting class at my school, so I am a lot stronger, too.”
The sophomore pared down her list of track and field responsibilities once the postseason began.
Luttrell usually provided her team with points in the 100-meter dash and by running the anchor leg in the 4×100 relay during the regular season. By the time sectional got here, Luttrell and Woodmen pole vaulting coach, Paul Hafen, decided to concentrate on her favored event.
The difference was immediate.
She cleared 11 feet at the Franklin Sectional, then returned a week later to continue padding her school record.
“The process of going to each event, my legs got tired during the higher heights of the pole vault,” Luttrell said.
That won’t be an issue on Friday.
Luttrell, like many female pole vaulters, has a gymnastics background. She began tumbling at the age of 2 and grew up fearlessly contorting her body in midair until she was 14.
Now, at 5-foot-6, she possesses the combination of speed, strength and know-how capable of bringing home one of the medals presented to the top nine finishers.
The transition from mats and beams to discovering the ideal step count was as fun as it was challenging.
“I used to be a gymnast, and a lot of my friends recommended pole vaulting to me,” Luttrell said. “My first practice, I immediately loved it. I said, ‘Mom, you have to take me back here. It’s so much fun.’
“I’m really just going for the experience so I can see what a state meet is like. I just feel if I put too much pressure on myself, I won’t have fun down there.”
Greenwood coach Blaine Williams can’t help but be excited about the next few years. Along with Luttrell, his other state finalists are sophomore high jumper Ellie Irwin, freshman Emma Gardner in the discus and another frosh, Makena Cruse, in the 400-meter dash.
“Amy experienced a lot of success last year, and then it was her understanding, ‘Hey, I’m pretty good at this,’” Williams said. “She worked with a club in the offseason, so she’s basically been vaulting since the end of last season.
“It might be corny to say, but the sky, literally, is the limit for her. She just keeps going up and up and up.”
IF YOU GO
IHSAA state finals
When: Friday, 3 p.m.
Where: Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex, Indiana University
Admission: $12 per person; children 24 months and younger free
County qualifiers
4×800 relay: Center Grove (seeded 16th); Indian Creek (18th)
100 meters: Sydney Rodgers, Whiteland (21st)
100 hurdles: Madi Kramer, Center Grove (sixth); Aubrey Runyon, Franklin, 100 (15th)
200 meters: Kramer, Center Grove (eighth)
4×100 relay: Center Grove (15th)
400 meters: Kate Henselmeier, Center Grove (10th); Makena Cruse, Greenwood (12th)
300 hurdles: Brooke Coffman, Franklin (17th)
800 meters: Bella Hodges, Center Grove (10th)
4×400 relay: Franklin (17th); Center Grove (20th)
High jump: Ellie Irwin, Greenwood (third); Suhk Chahal, Center Grove (ninth); Morgan Sandrock, Franklin (17th)
Discus: Shelby Wingler, Center Grove (second); Drew Mallory, Whiteland (14th); Emma Gardner, Greenwood (15th)
Shot put: Wingler, Center Grove (second); Mallory, Whiteland (sixth); Brooklyn Taylor, Whiteland (11th); Kylie Crum, Center Grove (17th)
Pole vault: Amy Luttrell, Greenwood (sixth); Khloie Walker, Center Grove (18th)
