McCurdy leaps to U20 pole vault gold 

 Sets PB at Athletics Ontario 2023 indoor track and field championships

 March 4, 2023

Libby McCurdy, right, won U20 women's pole vault at Athletics Ontario indoor championships March 2 at York University. London-Western clubmate Sophia Bryenton took bronze.

By Rob J. Ross 

TORONTO, Ont. - Libby McCurdy keeps flying higher.

The 16-year old from Sparta won women's pole vault at Athletics Ontario (AO) U20 indoor championships, with personal best height of 3.45 metres March 1-3 at York University.

McCurdy won the event by 10 centimetres, with three vaulters tied at 3.35m, including London-Western clubmate Sophia Bryenton, who took bronze on a tie breaker.

"It was really cool," McCurdy said. "Reaching 3.45 was pretty crazy because I already hit a PB before with 3.35."

After entering the competition at three metres and needing three attempts to clear that height, McCurdy used two attempts at the next three heights, including 3.35 metres, a PB.

McCurdy made 3.45 on her third attempt, for a career best mark.

In mid February, McCurdy set a PB of 3.30 metres winning gold at the AO U18 championships.

The grade 11 student at St. Joe's high school who turns 17 this year, now eyes making it over 3.50 metres.

Promise Atkinson of St. Thomas, placed 12th, clearing 2.85m.

The St. Thomas Legion Club had several athletes at the U20 meet.

Emma Westbrook placed eighth in women's shot put (8.52m), 13th in high jump (1.35m) and 20th in long jump (4.29m).

Aiyana John, 15 years old, placed ninth in women's high jump (1.50m) and 14th in long jump (4.65m).

Taylor Fletcher, 15, was 11th in U20 men's high jump (1.60m) and 24th in long jump (5.14m).

Breanna Sloetjes, 15, placed sixth in women's long jump (4.96m).


AO U16

At the AO U16 championships, occurring simultaneously, Xavier Sauer lead St. Thomas Legion Club with a bronze in men's high jump (1.63m), while Joel Sloetjes was fifth (1.55m). In long jump, Joel was seventh (5.15m) and Sauer eighth (5.10m). Sauer also finished 11th in the 200m dash (25.22 sec.) and 18th in the 60m dash (7.86 sec.).

Charlie Halpenny, 13, was sixth in the boys 60m hurdles (11.74 sec.) and 14th in long jump (3.98m)

Alayna Sloetjes finished seventh in the girls 60m hurdles (10.95 sec.).