Pontiac’s Grove vaults on to world stage

Emily Grove
Pontiac native Emily Grove will be competing in the pole vault at the World Championships in London next month. (Photo courtesy University of South Dakota)

By Eric Stock

VERMILLION, S.D. – A pole vaulter from Pontiac hopes to reach new heights and bring a world championship back to her hometown.

Emily Grove qualified for the track and field World Championships in London by winning a tiebreaker in the pole vault (15 feet, 1 inch) at the USA Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, California in June to take the final spot on the USA roster.

“I told myself that I had already completed what I went there to do which is to jump well so I was going to be happy with the day regardless of the end result,” Grove said. “It just work out in my favor so I’m super thankful that it did.”

Grove will be competing at the World Championships Aug. 5-13 at Olympic Stadium, but will have international competitions in Sweden this week and Italy next week to prepare.

Grove, a sixth-year senior at the University of South Dakota, credits her coach at Pontiac High School, Corey Christenson, for preparing her to excel in college.

“We still stay in touch, he’s a great guy, he’s super supportive and I think he helped set me up for being ready at the college level,” Grove said.

The All-American Grove is one of two Coyotes who be competing in the World Championships. Freshman Chris Nilsen earned his spot in the pole vault by finishing third in the national finals.

“It’s cool I have a teammate going with me, so hopefully we can make the finals over in London,” Grove said. “That’s the goal right now.”

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…