Sports > March 20, 2008

By Allison Lange | Sports editor

Senior pole vaulter Jill Ahrens, who hails from Houston, Texas, had the biggest track meet of her life at the ACC Indoor Championships. She set her own personal record and also set the Wake Forest program record, clearing 12 feet and placing third overall at the meet.

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(Photo courtesy of Media Relations)

Since coming to Wake, Ahrens has continually been improving and setting new records in pole vaulting. During her freshman year, Ahrens jumped 11-5 3/4 and improved upon that by six inches at the ACC Indoor Championships. The Old Gold & Black Sports editor Allison Lange sat down with Ahrens to talk about her plans after college, her PR at the ACC Indoor Championships and her favorite class at Wake Forest.

On when she started vaulting:

I started pole vaulting in seventh grade. I was a gymnast growing up and a lot of ex-gymnasts become pole-vaulters because of their body awareness. My school was hosting a mini camp on how to pole vault and my coach, knowing I was a former gymnast, invited me to attend. I fell in love with the sport and have been vaulting ever since.

On her favorite class at Wake:

My favorite class at Wake was Introduction to Financial Accounting with Dr. Baker. I found the class interesting and it also lead me to my major.

On her favorite accomplishment:

Getting All-ACC honors was the biggest accomplishment, to date, in my career. I have not scored in the ACC meet since I was a freshman and five years later to get All-ACC means a lot to me. It makes all the hard work worth it.

Also, getting to stand on the podium and represent Wake was very fun!

On her plans after college:

I already have a job with Ernst and Young, as an auditor, next year in Houston. After this outdoor season finishes, I plan on hanging up my spikes; I am not planning on pole vaulting post college.

On her PR at the ACC Championships:

The ACC Championship meet was great fun. As my coach said after I finished, “this is what it’s all about.” We train hard all year and to have it all come together and PR at the big meet means a lot. It was especially exciting because the whole team was there to support and cheer me on.

On the hardest part of pole vaulting:

The most challenging part of pole vaulting for me is letting go of my fears. When we are practicing in the wind or cold, I have to “get tough” and continue to run down the runway full speed and plant the pole letting go of any fears I may have.

On being somebody else for a day:

I’d be Stacy Dragila.

She is a pioneer for women’s pole vault. She also has a gold medal in the Olympics and is a world record holder.

I would love to know what its like to win Olympic Gold and hold the world record.