As the 2023 U-20 Pan American Women's Pole Vault Champion, Kenna Stimmel has set the bar high.
Her first competition in a Team USA uniform ended with a gold medal around her neck and the United States flag wrapped around her shoulders in Puerto Rico. And she's just getting started.
A 2022 Margaretta High School graduate, based out of Castalia, Ohio, Stimmel was named ACC Freshman of the Year during her first season at Tech. She garnered two first team All-America honors from finishing fourth in pole vault at the 2023 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships and eighth at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Stimmel was the only freshman to even qualify for either the outdoor or indoor national meets, making her the top-finishing first-year athlete in Division I girls pole vault.
A former gymnast, Stimmel was first introduced to pole vaulting in third grade after watching her older sister learn the basics. Around the time she was in fifth grade, Stimmel began making her own attempts on the runway.
Ohio's high school records were shattered as Stimmel perfected her technique. She remains the conference, district, region and all-time state record-holder with a clearance of 4.43 meters (14 feet, 6.25 inches). A three-time state champion, she is regarded as the top female high school pole vaulter in Ohio history.
Stimmel chose Virginia Tech midway through her senior season to jump for one of the best pole-vaulting coaches in the country: Bob Philips.
"The decision was made easy when I visited campus and met Bob," Stimmel said. "He's just developed so many strong pole vaulters, not only in college but also post-collegiate. And all of the people he recruits here become family."
During his 37 years as the coach of the Hokies' pole vaulters, Phillips has built a powerhouse in Blacksburg. Under his guidance, all four women's vaulters qualified for the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, and Stimmel's teammate Julia Fixsen clinched the national title.
"Freshman year is a year of adjustment for any athlete, and Kenna handled it like a true champ," Fixsen said. "She is such a mature athlete for her age and I am always so excited to see her rise to the top!"
Stimmel continued to build on Tech's success throughout the summer, winning the U-20 Pan American Games in early August.
It was especially sweet because Stimmel initially hadn't finished high enough at the USATF U20 Championships to qualify. However, due to a passport issue with one of the girls that placed ahead of her, Stimmel had her shot at redemption.
With the pressure of making the event behind her, she could relax and jump freely.
"It was honestly such a surreal experience that it's hard to put into words," Stimmel said. "I was representing Team USA, which is such a dream come true, and I was competing with best athletes from around the world. It was so much fun."
Heading into the start of her sophomore season, Stimmel's successes are far from over. This year's goal is to maintain the consistency that she showed during her first season.
Because of the thrilling ACC victory for both the men's and women's teams the year before, she is especially excited for the 2024 ACC Indoor Track and Field Championships.
"It was an unexpected win for us last year, and we all just went crazy when we found out," Stimmel said. "I hope that can happen again, and I hope we can bring home another ring for Tech."
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