Gates Chili senior, who boasts second-highest clearance in New York prep history and is No. 8 all-time high school performer, set to return to competition after missing outdoor season with leg injury

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Gates Chili NY senior Erica Ellis, who set the national junior class indoor pole vault record Jan. 6 by clearing 14 feet, 1.25 inches (4.30m) at the sixth annual Akron Pole Vault Convention, has signed with Penn State.

Ellis, who competed unattached as a junior and didn’t participate in any outdoor meets because of a stress reaction in her leg, elevated to the No. 6 all-time prep indoor performer and was the national high school leader for the year as only three female athletes cleared 14 feet during the outdoor season.

Lancaster graduate Mary Saxer still holds the New York indoor state record at 14-2 (4.32m) from 2005.

Desiree Freier of Northwest TX is the national prep indoor record holder, clearing 14-6 (4.41m) in 2014.

Ellis, the No. 8 all-time prep performer regardless of season, is coached by 2012 Olympic gold medalist and world indoor record holder Jenn Suhr and husband Rick Suhr.