Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Recruiting Profile: Vaulter Virginia LaMacchia

Here's a story that highlights Bloomsburg, PA's Virginia LaMacchia, a pole vaulter who will be joining the Villanova squad in the fall. LaMacchia has a PR of 12'3" and recently finished as the PA state runner-up during indoor season. She placed 4th at last year's PA state outdoor championships.

Virginia's Mile Split page is HERE.




Shepard and LaMacchia Lady Blue Jays

Central Columbia traveled to Milton on Tuesday afternoon for a Track and Field Meet. Last year Virginia LaMacchia finished fourth in the state in AA in the girl’s pole vault while Ellen Shepard took ninth in the state in the AA girl’s 100 meter dash.

This was Ellen Shepard last year winning the District IV title in the 100 meter dash as a freshman. And so far this season the blue Jay anything but feeling the blues, but shining at the Selinsgrove invitational and sensational at Susquehanna.

“Just coming to track and being like so gifted and making it as far as I did. I was really happy and really lucky to make it that far. It was quite an experience,” said Ellen Shepard.

“It was very amazing. There’s some things we can do with Ellen to improve. I was talking to you earlier saying about she needs to work on her start. We need to get that start a little better and she will be running even faster times,” said Fred Lenig.

We’ve all heard about the super sophomore, but there is a senior on this Central Columbia squad Virginia LaMacchia. She competes in the pole vault and finished fourth at states last year and Virginia will stay in the state of Pennsylvania and accept a full scholarship for track and field to Villanova.

“I used to be a gymnast so that really helps and ties into pole vaulting with the form, and I just thought pole vaulting looked really cool. I just wanted to try it,” said Virginia LaMacchia.

“She’s expecting a good year for herself. She spends a lot of time with it. She goes to camps and works with vertical assault so she’s a student of the sport,” added Fred.

One athlete is aiming high. Lamacchia cleared 12’3″ during the indoor season, and another athlete (Shepard) looking for some increased speed -- 13.1 seconds on the cinder track at Milton isn’t bad.

“I’ve been lifting a lot working on my speed training and definitely my form,” added Virginia.

“My starts definitely what I need to work on the most because I always end up being behind in my start,” added Ellen.

The State Track and Field championships take place Memorial day weekend at the end of May and for Ellen Shepard and Virginia LaMacchia they would like to end up on top of the podium at Shippensburg.

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