The Daily Princetonian caught up with women’s pole vaulter SJ Cohen, a first-year hailing from Pennsylvania who cleared 12’ 9.5” during her 2020 indoor season, to discuss pole vault, cooking, magic tricks, and everything in between.
SJ: It’s interesting because I started out as a distance runner in middle school, which is an area of track and field that does not complement the pole vault. The pole vault was always an event I wanted to try, but it was hard to find the facilities and resources to pick it up in New York City. I was finally able to sophomore year, which is pretty late to the game, but I had a high aptitude for the event and I was able to progress rapidly. Once I cleared my first bungee, I was determined to get faster and stronger so I could go higher.
