Durango High School senior Jessica Lee chased down a goal that was four years in the making in last Friday’s pole vault competition at the Southwestern League Championships.
Lee broke the Durango High School record and won the pole vault competition after clearing the bar at 9 feet, 10 inches. Her performance kicked off a dominant weekend for the Demons girls, who ran away with the league title. The DHS senior has worked toward the record throughout her high school career – and it was unclear if she’d ever make it – but the effort paid off as she hit her mark in the last home meet of her high school career.
“It’s really great to see how far I’ve come in the past few years,” she said. “There have been so many people who supported me and kept my spirits up when things didn’t go my way. I’ve wanted to break that record since I learned about it as a freshman.”
Lee was barely clearing the bar at 6 feet at that time. She was coming off of two ACL tears in back-to-back junior high basketball seasons but improved drastically in a short time. She made it to the 4A state meet pole vault finals in her sophomore year and tied for 14th with a leap of 9-3.
Before Friday’s record-breaker, Lee’s best was 9-6, but perfect conditions and added adrenaline for her last league meet set the stage to break former DHS star Lindsey Jankowski’s record clear of 9-9 all the way back in 2011.
“Some days you get rain or a little wind that could throw you off balance,” she said. “Everything came together perfectly and it was a great day to vault.”
Lee is eighth in the Colorado High School Activities Association’s girls 4A pole vault rankings and will represent DHS once again at the state meet this year.
“My goal is 10-6,” Lee said. “But, really, I just want to try and podium at state. That would be a nice way to end my career at DHS.”
Though her career as a Demon might be coming to an end, Lee is not done representing her hometown of Durango. She has committed to track and field at the next level as a Fort Lewis College Skyhawk.
The decision was a no-brainer. The opportunity to stay close to home was something Lee couldn’t pass up because of her tight-knit relationship with her younger siblings, twins Danielle and David who are sophomore participants for the Demons. Her older brother John also competed for DHS. She’s happy to stay close to her parents, who ran track in high school, and her grandparents who live in Bayfield.
“I’ve had four of the Lee kids now and they’re the type of kids that make our jobs as coaches so much easier,” Durango head coach David McMillan said. “The work doesn’t phase them and the whole family has such positive energy they give off. Jessica works hard, she smiles and helps those around her when they need help. She has an ideal attitude and possesses ideal characteristics for success.”
Lee will study biology at FLC and hopes to study microbiology in graduate school. Academics are a priority in her life and she’s delivered in the classroom with a 4.02 grade point average while participating in color guard, basketball and track and field at DHS.
“I just felt like Fort Lewis was a great choice for my undergrad,” Lee said. “It came at the right price and I’m thankful that I have the opportunity to compete at the college level.”
While she’s pursuing another record mark as her senior year comes to a close, Lee is remembering to cherish the last few weeks with her teammates and her siblings.
“It’s been amazing to have the three of us all competing at once,” she said. “I ran relays with my sister and I’ll never forget those few moments when it’s just us on the track. We have our parents in the crowd cheering and David yelling at us with the rest of the team. We have that bond that will never be broken.”
jfries@durangoherald.com
Behind the scenes
Where is your favorite vacation spot?: Morro Bay, California.
What is your favorite sports movie?: The Blind Side
What song is stuck in your head right now?: Anything by Kenny Chesney, Sam Hunt or Kelsea Ballerini.
What do you think about before you compete?: I meditate and visualize what I want to accomplish.
What is your favorite restaurant in town?: Olde Tymers’ burger is always delicious.
Do you have any hidden talents?: I really like gardening. I started a garden two years ago. I have brussel sprouts, zucchini, watermelon, radishes and all sorts of stuff. I also play the french horn.
What is your favorite TV show?: “The Big Bang Theory”
Which teacher or coach has made an impact on your life?: Our old hurdles coach Jacob Hetrick and Coach Baken in track. Our assistant basketball coach Orlando Griego really inspired me to work hard and become as fit as I can be.
Do you have any pets?: I have a cat named Quick, a horse named Shadow and two cows Penelope and Bessie.
Where would you most like to visit one day?: Paris, France looks really pretty.
