May 04, 2019 at 09:03PM
Sarah Litchfield is on the fast track to putting a fine finish on an already decorated high school career.
The Farmington senior entered her final prep sports season with seven state track and field medals, both as a sprinter and a pole vaulter. One more would give her the most in school history.
She was an integral part of a Farmers team that finished second as a team last year in Class 1A, as a member of the state title 4x400-meter relay and medal winning 4x100 and 4x200s. And she added a fifth in the pole vault.
"It was really sweet last year, winning the 4x4 and placing in all the relays," Litchfield said. "It definitely gave me more confidence in myself, knowing that I can compete at the state level and place high."
This year, she's making a habit of breaking her own pole vault record, set last year at 10 feet, 9 inches. She's bettered that mark three times — the last at 11-9 at the Knoxville Invitational.
"Just getting stronger and faster," Litchfield said of the reason for the big jump. "I recently got on a 13-foot pole and that's getting me higher. Just perfecting my form this year and having the confidence in myself."
She's using the sprints and relays to work on her approach in pole vault, to eventually focus on her top event at state. She still managed to win the 100 and 200 meters at the Fulton County Meet last week.
About the only time she hasn't upped her vault record was Friday night at the Roger Washburn Invitational in Eureka, where she failed to clear her starting height. Sickness, high winds and the added stress of impending collegiate cheerleader tryouts all played factors that night.
"(Friday) was a really tough day, but we're not training for Eureka, we're training for the end of the year," said first-year Farmington coach Chancy Whittington. "We're just getting her reps on that pole so when it's time to get going, she'll be there. I'll be surprised if she doesn't go 12-foot or 12-6. That's her cake goal for me (12-6). She's been hitting it in practice. We just need to get the right conditions and the right meet."
Pole vault is not all she excels at for the Farmers. She's also a two-time all-state cheerleader for programs that finished second and fifth at state the past two years. Litchfield, who earned an ICCA scholarship as a cheerleader scholar-athlete, is trying out this week for a cheerleader spot at the University of Missouri.
And then there's the academic part, where she owns a 4.1939 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, putting her in the Top 5 of her class and earning her a spot on the 26-member IHSA all-state academic team.
"It was really awesome to be named IHSA academic all-state," Litchfield said. "When I went to the dinner I really realized how special it is."
On the track, she's gone from being the one looking up to last year's strong senior class to the one being looked up to this season, from both sprinters and vaulters.
With Litchfield's leadership and the guidance of vaulting coach Jeff Weyers, three other Farmers are among the JS honor roll leaders in the pole vault — senior Kaitlyn Lebron (9-3), sophomore Kylie Turner (9-0) and freshman Miranda Hursey (9-0).
"Sarah's done a real nice job of being a leader for those kids," Whittington said. "The younger girls, that's their hero. They follow her."
The Farmers begin postseason May 9 at the Knoxville Sectional, with the state finals the next weekend.
Stan Morris can be reached at 686-3214 or smorris@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @stanmorrispjs.
Sarah Litchfield is on the fast track to putting a fine finish on an already decorated high school career.
The Farmington senior entered her final prep sports season with seven state track and field medals, both as a sprinter and a pole vaulter. One more would give her the most in school history.
She was an integral part of a Farmers team that finished second as a team last year in Class 1A, as a member of the state title 4x400-meter relay and medal winning 4x100 and 4x200s. And she added a fifth in the pole vault.
"It was really sweet last year, winning the 4x4 and placing in all the relays," Litchfield said. "It definitely gave me more confidence in myself, knowing that I can compete at the state level and place high."
This year, she's making a habit of breaking her own pole vault record, set last year at 10 feet, 9 inches. She's bettered that mark three times — the last at 11-9 at the Knoxville Invitational.
"Just getting stronger and faster," Litchfield said of the reason for the big jump. "I recently got on a 13-foot pole and that's getting me higher. Just perfecting my form this year and having the confidence in myself."
She's using the sprints and relays to work on her approach in pole vault, to eventually focus on her top event at state. She still managed to win the 100 and 200 meters at the Fulton County Meet last week.
About the only time she hasn't upped her vault record was Friday night at the Roger Washburn Invitational in Eureka, where she failed to clear her starting height. Sickness, high winds and the added stress of impending collegiate cheerleader tryouts all played factors that night.
"(Friday) was a really tough day, but we're not training for Eureka, we're training for the end of the year," said first-year Farmington coach Chancy Whittington. "We're just getting her reps on that pole so when it's time to get going, she'll be there. I'll be surprised if she doesn't go 12-foot or 12-6. That's her cake goal for me (12-6). She's been hitting it in practice. We just need to get the right conditions and the right meet."
Pole vault is not all she excels at for the Farmers. She's also a two-time all-state cheerleader for programs that finished second and fifth at state the past two years. Litchfield, who earned an ICCA scholarship as a cheerleader scholar-athlete, is trying out this week for a cheerleader spot at the University of Missouri.
And then there's the academic part, where she owns a 4.1939 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, putting her in the Top 5 of her class and earning her a spot on the 26-member IHSA all-state academic team.
"It was really awesome to be named IHSA academic all-state," Litchfield said. "When I went to the dinner I really realized how special it is."
On the track, she's gone from being the one looking up to last year's strong senior class to the one being looked up to this season, from both sprinters and vaulters.
With Litchfield's leadership and the guidance of vaulting coach Jeff Weyers, three other Farmers are among the JS honor roll leaders in the pole vault — senior Kaitlyn Lebron (9-3), sophomore Kylie Turner (9-0) and freshman Miranda Hursey (9-0).
"Sarah's done a real nice job of being a leader for those kids," Whittington said. "The younger girls, that's their hero. They follow her."
The Farmers begin postseason May 9 at the Knoxville Sectional, with the state finals the next weekend.
Stan Morris can be reached at 686-3214 or smorris@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @stanmorrispjs.