Claire Coleman '22 Recruiting Profile

I am a student-athlete dedicated to working hard and pushing myself both academically and athletically.  In school, I challenge myself by taking all honors and AP classes, maintaining straight As in those classes while also having a busy schedule outside of school with sports and extra-curriculars.  I have been a gymnast for most of my life, training 16+ hours a week for the sport.  This has given me a strong foundation for athletics, as it has made me strong and allowed me to develop a good sense of body awareness.  When I began high school, I decided to go out fo the track team.  I focused mainly on hurdling my freshman year, and I enjoyed that, but the pole vault always intrigued me.  Having heard that gymnasts tend to be good pole vaulters due to the sense of body awareness and strength, I decided to give it a try.  I began pole vaulting recently in January of 2021, and though I have only been vaulting for a short amount of time, I have already fallen in love with the sport.  My gymnastics background has allowed me to progress quickly, clearing 11’5” only 4 1/2 months after starting pole vault.  I am still doing gymnastics, which helps me build the strength and body awareness that is needed when pole vaulting; however, I aspire to compete on a college team as a pole vaulter.  I tend to be very determined when it comes to achieving goals, and I carry this same mindset with me when it comes to track and pole vault.  I am dedicated to my sport and will do whatever it takes to improve; I enjoy working hard and the feeling of accomplishment that comes with reaching goals.  I love being a member of a team because of the team atmosphere.  Having teammates by my side who cheer me on through the tough moments and celebrate my accomplishments encourages me to work harder and harder each day.  I enjoy competition because it challenges me to push my limits a little more in order to be better than I previously was.  I am excited to continue working hard to jump higher and higher and progress in my sport, as there is always something I can do to improve.