Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Tech women’s track and field team added two pole vaulters to the squad for the 2009-10 season, Tech announced on Wednesday.
Emma DeJarnette hails from Mechanicsville, Va., where she competed at Atlee High School. DeJarnette won the Virginia AAA state pole vault championship at the 2008 indoor, outdoor and the 2009 indoor state meets and holds a personal best clearance of 12-06.00. She was named a Hanover Scholar and earned All-Academic district, region and state honors throughout her prep career. The three-time state champion also competed on the Raiders’ gymnastics team, captaining the squad her senior year.
“Emma has been extremely successful in both gymnastics and pole vaulting,” Tech pole vault coach Bob Phillips said. “We are excited about the contributions she can make here at Virginia Tech as she narrows her focus to the pole vault alone.”
Leigh Allin comes to Virginia Tech from Lexington, Ky. Allin vaulted at Henry Clay High School where she captured the 2008 and 2009 Kentucky State Championship in the pole vault. Allin holds the school record in both the pole vault and triple jump, and owns a personal record height of 11-10.00. She is a member of the National Honor Society and Beta Club, is National Merit Commended and achieved first-team Academic All-State. She also competed in gymnastics through her junior season at Henry Clay.
“Leigh is a gifted athlete who is just scratching the surface of her potential in the pole vault,” Phillips said.