WESTON — Two months ago, Weston’s Emily Savage still had no idea where she would be headed this coming fall.
But as fate would have it, she was connected through a friend at a track meet at The Armory in New York City and was introduced to her future home.
Friday afternoon at Weston High School, Savage, the senior standout pole vaulter, signed her Letter of Intent to The University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla.
“When we visited, it just clicked,” Savage said of Oklahoma. “It was really cool, the team was welcoming, the coaches were awesome; the campus was gorgeous.”
Savage, who currently is the top female pole vaulter in the state, jumping 12-feet 8 inches, originally had her sites on Alabama. She said she received offers from South Florida and the Crimson Tide.
Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Savage said competing in the competitive Big 12 is something she is looking forward to. Throw in the fact she’ll now be more than 1,500 miles from her home of Weston, that doesn’t seem to faze the track star one bit.
“I’m from the South, so I’m ready to go back home,” she said with a grin. “It’s pretty cool.”
What also is pretty cool is Savage’s backstory to her success.
From the beginning, it was always gymnastics. It wasn’t until her freshman year at Weston when head track coach Mark Medve suggested Savage give the pole vault a try. Turns out it was the right fit.
“I was dedicated to gymnastics and I thought this would help me with my gymnastics,” Savage said. “But I found out this was a lot more fun, the team here was a lot more outgoing. I ended up liking this a lot more.” This past indoor season Savage made great strides in the vault. She won the SWC, Class S and State Open titles. She set a Class S and state record, vaulting 12-07 during indoors. She then went on to place eighth in the nation at New Balance Indoors.
Savage also competes in the high and long jump.
Since then, she has had a terrific start to her final high school outdoor track season. Last week Savage cleared 12-08 to set a new state record.
With more than two months left in the season, the ultra-competitive jumper is not done yet. She said she has plans to clear 13-feet and get ready for the collegiate level.
“I’m excited. I’ve been looking at some of the jumps that they’ve been doing (at Oklahoma/Big 12) and I want to be up there,” Savage said. “And I’m going to train really hard this season. I’m pumped.”
From: http://www.minutemannewscenter.com/articles/2013/04/12/westport/sports/doc5168b5eccc9fe923607369.txt?viewmode=2
