Announcement
Northside Junior Jay Yu BREAKS SCHOOL RECORD in Pole Vault! Jay Yu and Xavier Sigelko QUALIFY FOR THE IHSA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS!!
On Wednesday, May 15, 2013, Northside Junior Jay Yu and Freshman Xavier Sigelko traveled with Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon, and Pole Vault Coach Dan Turvey to Whitney Young High School in Chicago, Illinois for DAY 1 of the IHSA Sectional Championships, which featured the Pole Vault competition.
The IHSA Northside Sectional features 17 schools, from three different conferences, including the Chicago Catholic League, Metro suburban Conference, and the Chicago Public League. The Coaching Staffs of all 17 schools assembled at Northside College Prep for a Seed Meeting on Tuesday, May 14, 2013, and were provided with Gourmet Pasta, Salad, Corn, String Beans, Bread, and Beverages.
The Games Committee was announced at the Seed Meeting, and featured five Head coaches, including: Eileen McBride of Chicago CICS-Northtown, Kelly Lopez of Chicago Gordon Tech, Stefanie Dobrin of Chicago Marshall, Jon Gordon of Chicago Northside, and Tony Guagenti of Norridge Ridgewood.
A capacity crowd lined the streets on the corner of Loomis and Jackson to watch the IHSA Sectional Pole Vault Championships on Wednesday, May 15, 2013.
IHSA Sectional Referee Steven Kessler traveled all the way from Vernon Hills, Illinois to officiate the competition. Steven Kessler measured every inch of the Pole Vault pit, and runway. Kessler then weighed in the athletes. Athletes are not permitted to use a pole in the competition that weighs less than their body weight. Northside Junior Jay Yu weighed in at 139 lbs. Northside Freshman Xavier Sigelko weighed in at 144 lbs. Both Northside athletes choose to use a 145 lbs Pole for the competition.
Northside Junior Jay Yu and Freshman Xavier Sigelko both cleared the opening height of 7'0 on their first attempt. Xavier Sigelko showed incredible mental toughness, and cleared 7'0 without taking any warm-ups prior to the start of the competition because of weakness in his knee.
No other competitors cleared the opening height of 7'0. Jay Yu and Xavier Sigelko then both passed on 7'6. The bar was then raised to 8'0. Northside Junior Jay Yu cleared 8'0 on his first attempt. Northside Freshman Xavier Sigelko passed on 8'0.
The bar was then raised to 8'6, which is also the Northside School record. Jay Yu missed on his first attempt at 8'6. Northside Freshman Xavier Sigelko missed on his first attempt at 8'6. The Northside Coaching Staff then instructed Sigelko to withdraw his remaining attempts at 8'6 due to his knee injury because Sigelko had already secured second place, and a trip to the IHSA State Championships by being one of the only two remaining vaulters in the competition.
Jay Yu missed on his second attempt at 8'6. Northside Pole Vault Coach Dan Turvey then had an intense conversation with Jay Yu about his approach prior to his final attempt at 8'6.
Jay Yu then cleared 8'6 on his final attempt to officially WIN the IHSA Sectional Pole Vault Title, and tie the Northside School record!!
The bar was then raised to the school record breaking height of 8'7. Jay Yu missed on his first attempt at 8'7.
Jay Yu then cleared 8'7 on his second attempt to BREAK THE NORTHSIDE SCHOOL RECORD!!
The bar was then raised to 9'0. Jay Yu then made three outstanding attempts at 9'0. The capacity crowd then gave a standing ovation to Jay Yu for his outstanding performance.
In a nice awards ceremony after the Pole Vault Competition, Jay Yu was awarded a MEDAL for winning the IHSA Sectional Pole Vault title. Northside Freshman Xavier Sigelko was also awarded a MEDAL for finishing in second place, and qualifying for the IHSA State Championships!!!
Northside Senior Spencer Parts was also awarded an honorary Medal. Spencer Parts was instrumental in the revitalization of the Northside Pole Vault Program, and in April 2013 helped Northside set a Pole Vault Relay School Record at Spartan Relays.
Jay Yu and Xavier Sigelko also made history! Prior to Wednesday, only one CPS athlete has ever qualified for the IHSA State Championships in Pole Vault since Sectional competition commenced in 2003.
The Northside Coaching Staff, and members of the Whitney Young Track & Field Team then celebrated with IHSA State Pole Vault Qualifiers Jay Yu and Xavier Sigelko by traveling to Phildelphia's Best on the corner of Jackson and Halsted, for their world famous Philadelphia Cheese Steaks.
Northside scored a total of 18 points in Pole Vault on DAY 1 of the IHSA Sectional Championships.
DAY 2 of the IHSA SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS commences on Thursday, May 16, 2013, at Hanson Stadium at 4 pm. Admission is $5.00, and programs will be provided at the entrance of Hanson Stadium.
