As a freshman at Bainbridge (WA) High School three years ago, Ella McRitchie attended a meeting for the girls track team just to see what it was like.
McRitchie had never competed in track, but she told the coach that she was a competitive rock climber.
The coach was intrigued and suggested McRitchie give pole vaulting a try and recommended she work with Tim Reilly, the head coach of the Northwest Pole Vault club in Seattle.
To get there, she would have to take a ferry over to Seattle, the commute taking about an hour.
It didn't take long. McRitchie soon loved the event. She kept improving to the point where she became one of the best young pole vaulters in the U.S., drawing the attention of college coaches.
Now a senior, McRitchie is MileSplit's No. 15 recruit in the Class of 2024.
She recently committed to Harvard over Washington, where Reilly is an assistant coach. McR...
