Mary Saxer is one of track and field’s rising stars. She proved so during last season’s USA Track and Field Indoor National Championships, where she won the pole vault with an impressive 15’ 5.5” clearing over a deep field including 2012 Olympic champion, Jenn Suhr. That was Saxer’s first major victory since joining the professional ranks in 2009. Now Saxer hopes to gain her second in the 108th NYRR Millrose Games at the Armory on February 14th.
Saxer will again face Suhr at the Games as well as Greek Olympian, Ekaterina Stefanidi and Duke’s pole vault school record holder, Becky Clark.
“Any time Jenn is in the competition everyone is more on their A game,” said Saxer. “I hope I can come away with the win. That would be exciting.”
A win at this year’s Games wouldn’t be Saxer’s first at The Armory. The Buffalo, NY native grew up regularly competing at The Armory and won her first national title here as a high school junior in the long jump and second national title the following year in the pole vault.
“After winning nationals in the pole vault they told me I had my name on the wall for the facility record. I thought that was really cool and will always remember that. That’s my favorite Armory memory,“ said Saxer.
Saxer admits to still checking the Armory’s records wall whenever she returns and will likely check it on February 14th – despite her name being replaced by Desiree Freier last year.
After high school, Saxer went on to compete for Notre Dame, winning Big East titles at The Armory during her junior and senior years.
"All of the phases of my pole vaulting career – high school, college and now professional – I’ve been able to compete at The Armory,” said Saxer. “It’s cool coming back to the same place and being at a different point in my career each time."
