BCIAA track and field: Exeter’s Cara Miller is queen of the pole vault, plus complete conference meet results

TL;DR

Exeter's Cara Miller set a new Berks County pole vault record at 12-1¼ during the John H. Shaner Meet Invitational. She surpassed the previous record of 12-1 held by Bre Manzolillo.

Key points

Cara Miller broke the Berks County pole vault record
New record height is 12-1¼
Previous record was 12-1 by Bre Manzolillo
Miller also holds multiple meet records
Achievement recognized at the John H. Shaner Meet Invitational

Mentioned in this story

Wyomissing High School

Bre ManzolilloCara MillerJohn H. Shaner Meet Invitational

Junior Cara Miller of Exeter continues to raise the bar in the pole vault in Berks County track and field.

On Friday, May 1, at the John H. Shaner Meet Invitational hosted by Wyomissing High School, Miller broke the Berks County pole vault record by clearing 12-1¼.

The previous record was 12-1 by Schuylkill Valley’s Bre Manzolillo.

“Breaking the county record was just something really special to me and I’ve worked really hard to get here,” Miller said of her new accomplishment.

The junior nearly sets a record every time she competes, as she also owns the Shaner Invitational meet record and Panther Invitational meet record.

Miller has held Exeter’s school record since her freshman year and has broken her own mark four times, with districts and states still ahead.

Miller, a team captain, discussed the dedication she has put into the sport, which includes not only hours of vaulting, but also sprint training and weightlifting.

Her success does not come as a surprise to the Eagles coaching staff, which includes head coaches Drew Eckel and Kevan Schaeffer, along with pole vault coach Christa Steinmetz, as they understand the type of work ethic she brings on a daily basis.

“The coaching staff was extremely excited when she cleared. It was pure elation,” Eckel said. “Cara has been focused on breaking this record for over a year now since first clearing the 12-foot barrier. Cara not only trains at practice, but also spends time at Philadelphia Jumps Club in Eagleville. She is very dedicated and has truly earned this record.”

“Everyone was really excited including my coaches, my family, and my competition, who I’ve become really close friends with a lot of those girls,” Miller said. “I couldn’t have done it without any of them.”

Miller not only leads by example on the track and field, but also supports her teammates both on and off the track.

Along with dominating the pole vault scene over the years, Miller has also excelled in the long jump and the 4 x 100-meter relay.

At the Shaner Invitational, Miller placed sixth in the long jump with a mark of 16-2¾, finishing just behind teammate Melanie Adams, who jumped 16-3.

In the 4 x 100-meter relay, the Eagles team of Miller, Adams, Juleen Fortney, and Juliana Nerney finished fifth with a time of 51.34.

Most recently, Miller defended her two-time BCIAA Championships pole vault title with another exceptional performance that kept her atop the county standings.

She cleared 11-7 on Thursday, May 8, at Gov. Mifflin High School to retain gold.

Up next for Miller is the District 3 Class 3A Championships, where she placed sixth last season at 11-6 to qualify for the PIAA Championships. At states, she finished tied for 15th with a vault of 10-6.

Miller’s goals are simple as she heads into the final weeks of the season.