Irish Pole Vaulter Tori Pena retires from international athletics

Irish Pole Vaulter Tori Pena announced on Wednesday that she is retiring from international athletics. She has represented Ireland at 3 World Championships, 5 European Championships and 2 Olympic Games.

While she is native of California in the United States, she has dual US-Irish citizenship based on her maternal grandmother who came from Derry.

After declaring for Ireland in June of 2010, she set a new Irish record of 4.15m at the National Championships in July of that year. She would later go on to increase that  record to 4.60m in 2013.

The top 5 Irish heights for the Pole Vault are shown below. As you can see, she was some way ahead of the other Irish women and the only person that was capable of reaching the various qualifying standards for international competitions.

1 4.60 NR Tori Pena 6 Jun 2013
2 4.45 Zoë Brown 15 Jul 2014
3 3.95i Claire Wilkinson 7 Feb 2014
4 3.93 Erin Kinnear 24 Apr 2004
5 3.82i Bridget Pearson 19 Feb 2000

This is Tori Pena's statement...

Since 2010 I've had the pleasure and absolute honor of representing Ireland. This morning was my last time putting on my uniform and proudly giving it my all. I've competed at 3 World Championships, 5 European Championships and 2 Olympic Games. But so much more importantly, I've had the honor to compete with some amazing women. (Seriously, women's pole vault is on fire and I'm happy to say I've competed with these athletes) I've made friends with ladies from around the world who have shown me strength, courage, bravery, and joy. This journey has been painstaking and heart wrenching. It's been beautiful and profound. I've learned more about myself than I ever thought imaginable. Believe in yourself people, you'll be surprised what you can achieve.

I also can't even begin to name all the people who have helped me along the way. From high school coaches and school teachers. To my amazing training partners, coaches, and therapists. Friends and athletes who have picked me up from the airport at strange hours and given me a place to sleep or a ride to the next meet with my poles. The list goes on full of odd and obscure favors from people in the pole vault community and far beyond. I've loved every minute of it!

thank you, thank you, thank you

Ciara Mageean sets new Irish Indoor Mile record in New York

Ciara Mageean is one of Ireland's top international athletes and she was in action in the prestigious Millrose Games in New York this weeekend. In the Women's Wanamaker Mile race, she finished in a time of 4m 28.40s to set a new Irish Indoor record.

 

Women's Wanamaker Mile
Place    Athlete    Time                  
1    Shannon Rowbury Nike OP    4:24.39                  
2    Kerri Gallagher Nike    4:26.18                  
3    Amanda Eccleston Brooks    4:26.63                  
4    Heather Kampf Asics    4:27.26                  
5    Morgan Uceny adidas    4:27.99                  
6    Ciara Mageean new balance    4:28.40                  
7    Katie Mackey Brooks Beasts    4:28.84                  
8    Alexa Efraimson Nike    4:28.91                  
9    Heather Wilson New Jersey-New York TC    4:30.80                  
10    Dominique Scott Arkansas    4:31.57                  
11    Leah O' Connor adidas    4:31.83                  
12    Erin Teschuk North Dakota St    4:34.58

The race video can be seen HERE

One Mile (Irish women...Indoor Records)
1 4:28.40     Ciara Mageean 6    Millrose    New York NY    20 Feb 2016
2 4:30.06     Roísín McGettigan     4    Reebok    Boston MA 7 Feb 2009
3 4:30.41     Sinéad Evans    2    NBG    New York NY    8 Jan 2000
4 4:32.29     Mary Cullen    1    NBG    New York NY    20 Jan 2007
5 4:33.4h     Monica Joyce    1        Inglewood 10 Feb 1984
6 4:33.49     Sonia O'Sullivan    1 Boston MA    20 Jan 1991

Irish international Tori Pena was also in action in the Women's Pole Vault competition where she cleared 4.40m. Video clip HERE

Irish results from the World Championships...Mon 24th Aug 2015

Four Irish athletes were in action in the IAAF World Championships in Beijing on Monday the 24th of August.

In the womens 3000m Steeplechase, there were 45 athletes spread out evenly over three heats. Of the three Irish athletes, Michelle Finn from Cork recorded the high finishing position while Sara Treacy had the fastest time.

Heat 1
POS    BIB    ATHLETE    COUNTRY    MARK   
9    477    Michelle FINN    IRL IRL    9:55.27

Heat 2
POS    BIB    ATHLETE    COUNTRY    MARK   
13    481    Sara Louise TREACY    IRL IRL    9:48.24

Heat 3
POS    BIB    ATHLETE    COUNTRY    MARK   
13    478    Kerry O'FLAHERTY    IRL IRL    10:05.10

The slowest losing time that qualified for the final was 9:30.23 so all three were some way off that.

Post race interview with Michelle Finn...


Post race interview with Sara Treacy...

Pictured just left of centre is Kerry Flaherty. The unfortunate athlete who took a dip was Rolanda Bell of Panama

In the womens pole vault, Tori Pena went out in the qualifying rounds. At 4m 15cm, she failed her first attempt but cleared on the second one. At 4m 30cms, she sailed over first time. At 4m 45cms, Tori failed on her three attempts. A total of 28 athletes took part in the competition and only those that cleared 4m 55cms went through to the final.

Tori Pena sets new Irish Pole Vault record...

In a recent competition in Chula Vista, California, Tori Pena set a new Irish Pole Vault record when she cleared 4m 60cms in her first attempt. This is an improvement of 8 cms on her previous record of 4m 52 cms which was set in 2012. It also qualifies her for the World Championships in Moscow in August.

Tori Pena will be also be competing at the European Cup Team Championships First League in Santry on the 22nd and 23rd of June.

Focus on......Tori Pena, Ireland's Pole Valulter

In the upcoming Olympic Games in London, the sole Irish representative in the pole vault will be Tori Pena.

Event: Pole vault
Who is she? Born in California, the 24-year-old holds the Irish pole vault record at 4.52m and will be the first ever athlete to represent Ireland in the event.

Road to London: Pena, who is eligible to represent Ireland through Derry-born maternal grandmother, acquired dual citizenship in 2010 before joining the Finn Valley Athletic Club in Donegal.

She cleared the Olympic A standard of 4.50m to win gold at the Beach Track and Field Classic at Cerritos College, California in March 2012 and become the sole representative of the country in the field events.

What she says about herself: (On qualification) “Lots of things are coming together with my vault. I’m very pleased and 60+ should be very doable this outdoor season.

(One representing Ireland) “Although my grandma was never into sports herself, she’s always been a role model for me. I think it’s pretty unbelievable for her to think that I’m representing Ireland in the pole vault of all things. I don’t think it’s anything she could have ever imagined.”

Medal chances: Pena’s record of 4.52m ranked her in tenth place going into the European Track and Field Championships in Helsinki recently. However, having cleared 4.15m, 4.25m and 4.35m, she failed at 4.40m and suffered the disappointment of missing out on a place in the final.

Tori Pena sets new Irish pole vault record...

At the San Diego Triton Invitational in California on Saturday, 28th of April 2012, Tori Pena set a new Irish Pole Vault record of 4.52m. This improves on her previous best of 4.50 set back in March when she qualified for the 2012 London Olympics. Her position in the competition this weekend was joint first.

Women Pole Vault Invitational
===============================
    Name                 Year School     Finals
===============================
  1 Hendry, Kelsie   Canada              4.52m  
  1 Pena, Tori          Unattached        4.52m
  3 Hintz, Kelsy       San Diego St.    4.22m 
  4 Vause, Leah        Unattached       4.12m
  5 Jamerson, Megan   Unattached    J4.12m 
  6 Maaten, Dayna     Univ. of Win      4.02m

Interview with Pole Vaulter Tori Pena on Newstalk Radio...

Last weekend, Tori Pena became the 14th person to qualify for the London Olympics when she cleared 4.50m at the Beach Track and Field Classic at Cerritos college in California. Pena who has dual Irish/US citizenship said after the event..."Lots of things are coming together with my vault, I’m very pleased and 4.60+ should be very doable this outdoor season.” On Tuesday evening, she was interviewed on the "Off the Ball" sports programme on Newstalk. Click on the link below....it starts at 24:50