Star Pole Vaulter Should Be Tested By Stellar Field

NEW YORK, January 17, 2012 - Jenn Suhr, the world's No. 1 ranked pole vaulter, is entered in the Millrose Games' Fred Schmertz Women's Pole Vault event February 11 at the Armory's New Balance Track & Field Center, announced today by the Armory Foundation.

Suhr is one of five women in this year's field who have cleared 15 feet.

``I'm looking forward to a great indoor season leading into this Olympic year,'' said Suhr, a native of Fredonia, N.Y. where she won the 2000 New York State pentathlon title. ``I'm healthy and look forward to vaulting in the Armory.  The runway is fast and if all goes well, I feel like I can get a great jump there."

Suhr is coached by her husband Rick Suhr and has been the USA's top pole vaulter since 2006, winning a total of 10 U.S. National titles. She holds both American indoor (4.83m/15'-10'') and outdoor records (4.92m/16-01.75).

In 2009 she captured first place in the Millrose Games and last year she finished runner-up to Russia's Yelena Isinbayeva. In the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, Suhr captured a Silver medal and also was that year's Silver medal winner in the World Indoor Championships in Valencia.

Suhr and this year's Millrose field will have their eyes on the Millrose Games' record of 4.82m/15-9.75 set in 2007 by Isinbayeva.

The rest of the field includes Mary Saxer (Elmira, N.Y., Notre Dame High School), former NCAA champion Lacy Janson (Florida State University), Israeli record holder and Olympian Jillian Schwartz, former NCAA champion Becky Holliday (University of Oregon) and 2008 Olympian Kelsie Hendry of Canada.

All but Hendry (4.55m/14-11 indoor and outdoor personal best) has cleared 15 feet.

The Women's Pole Vault event is named in honor of Fred Schmertz, Millrose Games meet director from 1934-74.

MORE ABOUT THE MILLROSE GAMES: The country's top men's and women's track & field athletes along with the finest college and high school student-athletes will showcase their talents in the Millrose Games at the Armory.

The Armory previously announced 2008 Olympic Gold Medal winner LaShawn Merritt will compete in the Mel Sheppard Men's 500m event while eight-time Wanamaker Mile champion Bernard Lagat will be running in the 5000m.

Contender for the Olympic Gold medal and current Outdoor High Jump World Champion Jesse Williams joins multi-World Champion and 2004 Olympic Gold medalist Sanya Richards-Ross, 2008 Olympic Gold medalist Allyson Felix and World Champion/2008 USA Olympian Jennifer Simpson as other confirmed athletes in the nation's premier indoor track & field event. Richards-Ross will run in the Howard Schmertz Women's 400m event, Felix will compete in the Women's 60m event and Simpson will participate in the Millrose Games' first NYRR Wanamaker Metric Mile for Women.

Seven-time Wanamaker Mile champion and ``Chairman of the Boards'' Eamonn Coghlan returns to be part of the 105th Millrose Games. Coghlan will be the honorary coach of Ireland's ``Dream Team'' to compete in the Byron Dyce College Men's Distance Medley Relay against national college power Villanova, coached by five-time Wanamaker Mile champion Marcus O'Sullivan of Ireland, as well Virginia, Duke, Providence, Columbia and Albany.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.armorytrack.com. Click on to Millrose Games for more information, including ticket prices and seating chart. Note: there is an 8 ticket limit for online sales. For group sales of more than 8 tickets please call the Group Sales at (818) 276-6790 (818-ARMORY-0).

For more information on the Millrose Games, click to: www.millrose-games.org 

ABOUT THE ARMORY FOUNDATION:

A New York City non-profit, the Armory will be the proud home of the Millrose Games beginning in 2012.  With more than 100 additional indoor track & field meets, the Armory will welcome over 125,000 individual athletes. Besides its many youth sports and educational programs, the Armory runs the Hispanic Games, the New Balance Games, and the New Balance Collegiate Invitational, the largest indoor college meet in the United States. The Armory is also the home to the National Track & Field Hall of Fame.

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