Jenn Suhr, Olympic gold and silver medalist and three-time Olympian, has joined Roberts Wesleyan University ’s coaching staff as assistant men’s and women’s track and field coach, effective immediately. Following a legendary career in track and field, Suhr returns to her alma mater to oversee training and recruitment for student-athletes competing in the university’s Division II pole-vault program. She’ll coach the team alongside Chris Brhel, who will continue in his role as pole vault coach at the university, working together to build an elite program that will create pathways for future Olympic hopefuls in the sport. Recruiting for next season is now underway.
“We are proud to welcome home a true Roberts Wesleyan University and Western New York sports icon to be a coach in the program that helped vault her into the worldwide track and field spotlight,” said Bob Segave, executive director of athletics at Roberts Wesleyan University. “Suhr excelled as a student-athlete at Roberts and is admired for her many professional pole-vaulting accomplishments. I have great faith in Jenn and her ability to transform the lives of student-athletes and make an impact on the men’s and women’s track and field program into the future.”
In addition to her new role as coach, Suhr will be inducted into the Roberts Wesleyan University Athletic Hall of Fame on Sunday, April 30, during the third annual Reggies.
Before retiring from track and field in 2022, Suhr’s prolific achievements within the sport firmly cemented her place as one of the most accomplished pole vaulters in American history. The Fredonia native first competed in collegiate basketball, where she became the all-time scorer at Roberts Wesleyan, before discovering her talent for pole vaulting. After picking up her first pole at age 22, Suhr embarked on a record-breaking 17-year career where she earned two Olympic medals in women’s pole vault — silver at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and gold at the 2012 London Olympic games.
In addition to her successes competing on the world’s biggest stage, Suhr also holds several world records and set 12 American records. She won her first U.S. Championship title in 2005, just 10 months after picking up the sport. Suhr then went on to win an unprecedented 17 national championships and is the only vaulter in U.S. track and field history to win three Olympic trials. Upon her retirement, she held the world record in the indoor vault (5.03 meters, 16 feet, 6 inches), a record she still holds today.
Since getting her start in pole vaulting at Roberts Wesleyan, Suhr has returned to her alma mater several times over the years, including for pole-vaulting exhibitions after the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. Her gold medal tour visited Roberts during Homecoming Weekend in 2012. Suhr’s induction into Roberts Wesleyan’s Athletic Hall of Fame will further cement her athletic legacy and impact at the institution. Suhr lives in Riga with her husband and former coach, Rick Suhr.
For more information on Redhawks Athletics, visit http://robertsredhawks.com.
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