Darren Cooper / NorthJerey.com
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP — Emma Keating had a routine.
Come back from the pole vault pit, jot a few numbers down in her notebook, wait a few minutes, drink some water from her steel container, find her pole, adjust her grip. Win a state title.
The Pompton Lakes senior cleared 13 feet to win the pole vault at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions on Thursday at Franklin High School, repeating as the state champion in the event.
She did so with her family nearby and a smile on her face.
“This is fun,” Keating said. “I feel great. I am so thrilled. I can’t believe it.”
It’s not that big of a surprise for fans of North Jersey track and field.
Keating has been the best pole vaulter in New Jersey and had the attention of the entire pole vault community for almost 45 minutes at the Meet of Champions. She was the only competitor to clear 12-6, then she cleared 12-9 on her third attempt and 13 feet on her third attempt.
After missing twice at 13-3, she decided to take one last shot, boosting the bar to 13-6.
Her attempt was close, but the bar dropped.
“I was really happy with that attempt,” Keating said. “At least I turned it out.”
Missing at 13-6 was about the only bad thing to happen.
“Maybe I had a little bit of pressure on myself because last week I ended up PR-ing, which made it very special,” Keating said. “I really wanted to jump as well. I really just came in today wanting to have fun and cap off a good season.”
“She’s worked so hard,” said her father and coach, Steve. “She really deserves it.”
There won’t be much rest for the Keating family. Emma will compete at New Balance Nationals on Friday in Philadelphia.
“Tomorrow will be a fun day,” Steve said. “It will be a little bit tough recovering from the day and the weather might be bad, but we’ll have fun.”
The poles and the notebook are all going. The notebook might be her secret to success.
“She keeps a record of her grip, her steps and the pole she’s using so we can kind of see how she’s jumping,” Steve said. “That also helps her confidence. Before last week [groups], I said look through your book and look for the days you jumped well at 12-6 and 12-9, and then she is comfortable jumping on those poles.”
“It’s because I want to see the numbers, what pole I am on, where I am running, what steps I am taking,” Emma said. “So many things change, what the standards are, and whether you go up on your grip or not.”
Plenty of things change, but not the New Jersey pole vault champion.
