The Darien Times

Pole vault: Freshman Crafford sets school record, Gasparino has personal best

Monday, February 20, 2012 06:30 PM

Womens College Indoor Track

Christy Gasparino (DHS ’10) and Elizabeth Crafford (DHS ’11) are making waves in the college pole vault scene, emerging among the elite college vaulters on the East Coast.

Clemson sophomore Gasparino was at the New Balance Invitational in New York City in early Feb. where she finished second among a strong field with a personal best jump of 13-1.75.

William and Mary freshman Crafford finished first among a field of 30 with a school record and personal best jump of 12-6 at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia.

Both have taken different paths en route to their current success.

Gasparino was a standout high jumper, long jumper and hurdler at Darien High School. She was originally attracted to Clemson’s program to be a heptathlete, where she would focus on multiple jumping and running events, although not including the pole vault. But once at Clemson, the coaches convinced her to make the switch to pole vaulting.

And now all of her attention is focused on the event.

“It was evident from her athletic ability that pole vaulting would be a natural event for her,“ said Glenn Crafford, who volunteers at DHS as pole vault coach. “In a highly technical event that generally takes years to master, she has excelled in only her second season of vaulting.

“To jump over 13 feet with as little experience as Christy has, is very impressive. She is beating vaulters who have six or eight years of experience.”

Elizabeth Crafford, his daughter, has taken the slow but steady road to her recent record performance. She started vaulting as a ninth grader at DHS.

As a senior last spring, she had a breakout year and won the Class L state championship with a meet record vault of 11-7.

A walk-on athlete at William and Mary, she has attracted attention with her recent freshman record jump.

“She has an outstanding support group of coaches and fellow jumpers,” according to the senior Crafford. “Elizabeth has already improved her personal best almost 12-inches just four weeks into the season.”

The two girls have several weeks remaining in their indoor season before the action moves outdoors, where performances are generally higher.

Crafford adds: “It will be really exciting to see what they can accomplish in the spring; they are definitely making themselves known.”

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