Sophomore Sophia Franklin triumphed on the first day of the Spartan Invitational last Friday, breaking her previous vaulting school indoor record of 4.18 meters (13-08.50) with a 4.37 meter (14-4) vault. Her previous record was made in January at the Simmons-Harvey Invitational. She took the Spartan Invitational title as she beat former Spartan All-American Lauren Chorny.
The competition took place at Jenison Field House, with the final two competitors being Franklin and Chorny, as Chorny was competing unattached. Michigan State took four of the top five spots after Franklin competed, with sophomore Libby Jefferson and freshman Calli Ostapowicz finishing tied in third with a 3.72 meter (12-2 ½) vault, and sophomore Gabriella LaRoux taking fifth with a 3.57 meter (11-8 ½) vault.
Franklin has been a record setter and achiever lately, tying the Michigan State outdoor pole vault record at the Raleigh Relays on March 29 by clearing a height of 4.25 meters (13-11 ¼). This was equivalent to the height set by Chorny in 2016.
“We knew she had talent when she came; we knew that her upside was huge,” Director of Michigan State Track and Field Walt Drenth said. “Last year, she was just figuring out the discipline of being on her own at college, and you could see that in her performance when they would go up and down.”
Aside from the women’s pole vaulters, men’s track and field members did well at the invitational as well. Freshman Trevor Stephenson finished second behind Eastern Michigan’s Alex Jacobs in the pole vaulting event. Stephenson clearned 4.87 meters (15-11 ¾) on his second attempt. Redshirt sophomore Nick Kramer took home the title in the men’s hammer with a season-best throw of 61.05 meters (200-3).
“The women did extremely well,” assistant coach Lonnie Pugh said. “We also saw a lot of confidence on the men’s side."
The Spartan track and field teams continued their invitational on April 6, where several personal bests were set by both women and men members. The team will compete in the Louisville Invitational from April 12 to April 13.
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