July 10, 2022
WEST EDITION
Westside News Established 1953
Serving Suburban News West and Hamlin-Clarkson Herald edition areas
Serving the communities of Hamlin, Clarkson, Kendall, Bergen, Clarendon, Holley-Murray, Brockport-Sweden
July 10, 2022
Issue No. 28
westsidenewsny.com
Legendary pole vaulter Jenn Suhr announces retirement from the sport Jenn Suhr remembers seeing a member of the Roberts Wesleyan College men’s track and field team practice pole vaulting in the Voller Athletic Center about 20 years ago and shaking her head in awe. “He was clearing about 12 feet and I asked him if he was going to the Olympics because that just seemed amazing to me,” she said. That vaulter never qualified for the Olympics, but Suhr did. Three times. The 2004 Roberts graduate, who was a basketball player named Jenn Stuczynski when she reluctantly first picked up a pole at age 22, embarked on an incredible 18-year career that saw her become the greatest women’s pole vaulter in American history. Suhr, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist, 17-time U.S. national champion and current world record holder in the indoor pole vault, officially announced her retirement from competitive track and field on June 23 at age 40. Her announcement came on the eve of the Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon. Suhr said she knew it was time because the focus of her conversations with her husband and coach, Rick Suhr, had shifted from heights and meets to things that would be happening after pole vault. “It just kind of just clicked and I have no regrets,” Suhr said. “I think that this is a great place to end. I am not ending with an injury, and I am not ending in a place where I can’t vault.” “The Roberts community celebrates the
outstanding achievements and athletic career accomplishments of alumna Jenn Suhr ‘04,” Roberts Wesleyan College President Dr. Deana L. Porterfield said. “She has been a role model to our community as she earned accolades on the international stage, holding the highest records in the world, with persistence and humility. “As Jenn retires from active participation in the sport of pole vaulting while continuing to hold her ranking with international records, it is remarkable that she has devoted herself to helping up-andcoming athletes. Well done and thank you, Jenn, for staying true to who you are and modeling excellence and character in every aspect of your life.” Suhr, a native of Fredonia, averaged 24.3 points while leading the Roberts women’s basketball team to the National Christian College Athletic Association championship game in 2004. She graduated as the alltime leading scorer in Roberts women’s basketball history with 1,819 points and was named the NCCAA National Player of the Year as a senior. Roberts Director of Athletics Bob Segave recalls the first time he met Suhr in person. Suhr was training in Voller Athletic Center as was the women’s basketball team, which Segave coached at the time. After her workout, she made her way over and talked with the star-struck team. “She was so humble and gracious,” Segave said. “She spoke about her time at Roberts on the basketball court, which some of the players were not familiar with. We continued what became many wonder-
A reception to honor Jenn Suhr was held at the firehouse on Washington Street in Churchville on September 29, 2012. Former Churchvillle Mayor Nancy Steedman (right) said, “The Village of Churchville is so proud to have such an outstanding athlete come from our community.” Suhr autographed a USA Olympic banner to hang at the Village Hall. File photo by Dave Knox.
Jenn Suhr, a 2004 graduate of Roberts Wesleyan College, announced her retirement from competitive track and field after an 18-year career in the sport. She won the 2012 Olympic gold medal, is a 17-time U.S. national champion and current world record holder in the indoor pole vault. At a community reception in 2012, Suhr said winning gold “was the most magical moment of my life.” Provided photo. ful conversations. We are so proud of her determination, grit and perseverance. I always tell her that her ‘heart of a champion’ and ‘mental toughness’ is at its best when the stage is the biggest. “I feel that it is appropriate that Jenn, a woman who has reached record-breaking heights, announced her decision to retire from competition on the 50th anniversary of the passage of Title IX. I have no doubt in my mind that she will continue to inspire and influence female athletes long into the future.” Suhr also won NCCAA titles in the javelin, 100 hurdles and pole vault dur-
ing her time at Roberts. She started pole vaulting after meeting Rick Suhr on the Roberts campus and won the 2005 U.S. championship just 10 months after picking up the sport. She went on to win an unprecedented 16 more national championships and is the only vaulter (man or woman) in U.S. track and field history to win three Olympic trials. Suhr retires as the world record holder in the indoor vault (5.03 meters, 16 feet, 6 inches) and has held the women’s indoor world record since March 2, 2013. continued on page 7
Jenn was presented with plaques and proclamations from the Town of Riga, the Village of Churchville, the Greater Churchville-Riga Chamber of Commerce, Monroe County, and the New York State Senate and Assembly. She signed autographs for a long line of fans and those in attendance were welcome to get a close-up view and even hold the gold medal. File photo by Dave Knox.