Junior Emily Brigham broke the girls’ Kansas state track record for pole vault on Thursday, April 5 at the Jaguar Invitational.

Brigham feels that clearing the height of 13 feet is a symbol of her hard work.

“I practice year round,” Brigham said. “I put all my time and effort into pole vaulting, it feels good to get something I’ve worked really hard for.”

Brigham first broke the school record for pole vault on Friday, March 23 at the Blue Valley North Dual with a height of 12 feet, then broke that record at the next meet on Friday, March 30 at the Ottawa Relays with a height of 12-6.

Brigham began pole vaulting her freshman year and loved it from the beginning.

“I was a gymnast for so long,” Brigham said. “I guess that carried into the fact that I just like being in the air. I like to fly.”

Brigham hopes to break her personal record of 13 feet over the duration of this season.

“I want to train harder and jump higher,” Brigham said. “I just want to be the best athlete I can.”