Suhr Thing Article

[Bubba PV]

http://www.whec.com/sports/stories/S179 ... ml?cat=566

A "Suhr" thing
Posted at: 10/18/2010 4:42 PM | Updated at: 10/18/2010 6:54 PM
By: Robin De Wind | WHEC.com

She won the silver medal at the 2008 Olympics and now Jenn Stuczynski is on top of the world for another reason.

Jenn Stuczynski is now Jenn Suhr. She married her coach and ended this season with the highest women's pole vault in the world.

Call it a "Suhr" thing. Jen and Rick Suhr have reached the top of their profession together. Jenn won the silver medal in women's pole-vaulting at the 2008 Olympic Games. This year, she wrapped up her season with the highest women's jump in the world, and won her fifth straight U.S. outdoor title.

"It was a jump that was unexpected at an unexpected time, but to have it hold up was the high. You always cross your fingers and hope it was high enough to withstand the competition," said Jenn Suhr.

And maybe just as importantly, the pair who has tirelessly worked together got married this year.
"I'm cooking more and learning more. It's kind of a responsibility you just take on," said Jenn Suhr.

"I like being a husband more than anything. I enjoy Jenn and it has nothing to do with pole vaulting. We have coffee, we walk her dog, four wheel, watch football and talk athletics," said Rick Suhr.

Rick has been coaching for years locally and discovered Jenn while she was a student at Roberts Wesleyan College. A natural athlete she had never pole vaulted in her life. Suhr, who saw the potential, groomed his student into a world-class athlete in just four years.

"The mental part is what you need to watch. She went four straight indoor and outdoors seasons. Most athletes will take two years off. This was the first time she took indoor off to recover physically and mentally," said Rick Suhr.

An achilles injury forced Jenn to miss last season. That's why her record jump was such an accomplishment this year. But if you spend time with the Suhrs, it's not the records and plans for 2012 that are most important now. Their time to reach new heights has finally come.

"We like Halloween, fall and everything that goes with it. We like this time of year. Come November 1, we kick it up again, "said Rick.

"Everything is a balance in life and you have to balance and make sure that lines up with your personal life and everything will fall into place," said Jenn.

The Suhrs says their first goal was to get Jenn healthy and to establish the best jump in the world. The pair is putting themselves in position for the World Championship next year and then the Olympics in two years.

For more Rochester, N.Y. news go to our website www.whec.com.

[Bruce Caldwell]

WOW interesting he is now here 24/7 coach smile

[Bubba PV]

Kind of worked out pretty good for Jackie and Bobby Kersee. What I get from the article is that they are really enjoying just the everyday things in life together. Very cool. It will probably produce even more stellar jumps. Great for them, and us fans! Bubba

[roger/over]

Given his many valued contributions to PVP, I hesitate to correct anything Bubba writes, but he does offer:

"An achilles injury forced Jenn to miss last season. That's why her record jump was such an accomplishment this year. But if you spend time with the Suhrs, it's not the records and plans for 2012 that are most important now. Their time to reach new heights has finally come."

Sorry, but Suhr's 3.89 at Des Moines in June was not a record jump. The USA national record and national championship record remains the 4.92 of Jennifer Stuczynski at Eugene on 6 July 2008.

[rainbowgirl28]

Don't worry about the correction Roger, Bubba didn't write it, a newspaper writer did. Bubba was just reposting the article.

Oddly enough, I have seen mentioned more than once this year that Jenn set an AR this year, which, as Roger pointed out, is false. I think newspaper writers who know little about track got WL and AR confused.