http://www.iberianet.com/sports/leleux- ... 002e0.htmlLeLeux wins Pan Am gold
Leah McClelland, Special to The Daily Iberian
LeLeux wins Pan Am gold
Morgann LeLeux, shown practicing earlier this year, won the gold medal at the Junior Pan Am Games Friday.
Posted: Sunday, July 24, 2011 6:00 am
MIRAMAR, Fla. — Recent Catholic High grad and University of Georgia signee Morgann LeLeux took home the gold medal Friday when she won the pole vault competition at the Junior Pan American Games held at the Ansin Sports Complex.
LeLeux cleared 13 feet, 7 1/4 inches Friday to win the event over second place finisher Sandi Morris (13-3 1/2), who also was on the United States team.
Third place went to Karleigh Parker of Canada (12-5 1/2) and fourth place went to Paige Ridout of Canada (12-1 1/2).
LeLeux won despite braking her favorite pole in three places on her first attempt at a height of 13-3.
It was the same pole that she set the national record on at the Region II-3A meet held at Louisiana-Lafayette in April.
According to her coach and father, Shane LeLeux, Morgann came back and finished the competition on a shorter pole.
“That was my favorite pole,” said LeLeux. “I’m used to poles snapping but after I was like ‘oh my gosh. I don’t have a pole.’”
After winning the event, LeLeux tried to set a new national record but her hands, which stung all meet long after her pole broke, were swollen and she couldn’t properly hold onto the new pole during her record-setting attempt.
However, she walked away with the gold medal from the Pan Am Juniors, which was her ultimate prize.
“That was my goal today and I’m walking away with my gold,” said LeLeux.
LeLeux competed in the Dauphin Street Vault Saturday and is will leave Wednesday to travel to Whichita, Kansas to compete in next weekend’s USATF National Outdoor Meet. She will also be in the AAU meet this year.