Former EP pole vaulter Cameron Abell will compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association’s National Outdoor Track and Field Finals in Texas on Tuesday, May 11. The meet is being hosted by South Plains College in Levelland, Texas.
Abell, a freshman at Sauk Valley Community College is making the trip with his coach Tom Unruh who was also his high school coach. He met the qualifying standard of 14 ‘ 6″ earlier this season along with just 12 other vaulters from across the county.
Abell took 9th at the IHSA state finals as a junior in May of 2019, vaulting along teammate and state record holder Kyle Kruthoff. Abell also competed in the National AAU Jr. Olympic Finals in Greensboro, North Carolina in the summer of 2019 tying for 20th place clearing 13′ 3.5″.
As a senior, Abell was able to compete in one indoor track meet before the season was shutdown due to Covid.
The Sauk track program was resurrected in 2020 but its initial season was also cancelled due to Covid before it ever began. Abell decided to attend Sauk after graduating and continue his vaulting career as the track program was given permission to resume this spring.
Unruh said Abell has continued to improve this season setting a PR of 14’ 9”. He enters the field with the 9th best jump. “He’s been practicing well and I am sure he will do the best he can,” said Unruh.
