Kara Fennell, Knoch track and field triple jumper and pole vaulter, just beginning to take off
Kara Fennell’s showing in field events this spring was superb, but in reality, she has just scratched the surface of her ability.
Despite limited experience in the triple jump and pole vault, Knoch’s incoming senior placed second and fifth, respectively, at the WPIAL Class 2A Track and Field Championships in May. She capped her season the following week by finishing third and sixth in the events at states. Her effort there in the former of 38 feet, 10.25 inches is a school record.
She also broke the Knights’ standard in the pole vault, reaching 11-2 earlier in the season.
“I began competing in gymnastics when I was 9, and it was my favorite sport until this spring,” Fennell said. “After doing so well in track and field, I’m going to focus on it more and hope to go on to compete in college.”
Making her recent accomplishments even more notable is the fact Fennell was dealing with pain the entire season.
“I have an injured bone in my left foot,” she said. “It started bothering me my freshman year, basically due to overuse. I had surgery on it last summer and that helped, but it still got really sore after meets this spring.”
The discomfort severely limited Fennell’s practice time. It caused her to miss one of Knoch’s dual meets and an invitational this past season.
This was the first year Fennell competed in the pole vault. She already had a season of the triple jump under her belt, but the lack of practice time held her back in both events. And yet, the end results were very impressive.
“When we first saw her a few years ago, we knew she was a gymnast and was so athletic,” Knoch girls coach Amy Formica said. “We said, ‘This girl is going to break records.’ We were just waiting for it to happen.”
Fennell was cautious about setting goals in the pole vault.
“A lot of gymnasts who end up doing track and field pick up the pole vault, and it’s something I wanted to try,” she said, “but I did not set a height for myself to reach.
“I plan to compete during the indoor season this winter. With the triple jump, I’m still figuring out the technique, especially the first phase on the runway.”
When Fennell does master the nuances of both events, watch out.
“I could say I’m surprised at what she’s done, but I’m not,” Formica said. “She has a ton of potential.”
