Leigh Ferrell ‘25 had been running cross country since the fourth grade, running varsity cross country from her freshman to junior year, before making the incredibly hard decision to stop her senior year in order to go all in for pole vaulting.

“I never thought I would stop running, and then when I did, it was because I just found something I loved more,” Ferrell said. “Now, I’m finally seeing results after quitting running.”

Ferrell started pole vaulting in eighth grade when she moved to Florida and hasn’t stopped since. 

“It’s kind of like flying,” she said. “It’s cool to free fall 11 feet in the air; it’s fun and addicting in that way. And you can always go higher; you can never max anything out, so there’s always a new challenge.”

On top of pole vaulting for LT’s track team, Ferrell trains three times a week at RISE Pole Vault in Joliet under the coaching of Luke Winder, who participated in the Olympic Trials this summer.

“It’s a 45-minute drive, but it’s worth it because I’m there for three hours training, and I get really great coaching,” she said.

On top of her unique sport, Ferrell maintains an unusual school schedule, being a part-time student this year. 

Last year was difficult, going from school to track practice then to RISE, getting home after 9 p.m. without any schoolwork done, Ferrell said. This year, she attends school in the morning for periods one through three, goes home, then returns for seventh period. 

“Just having three hours in the middle of the day to get all my school work done so I can enjoy my training and not have to do school after I’ve worked out for three hours is really helpful,” Ferrell said. 

Along with working through struggles of balancing academics and athletics, Ferrell has been working through her struggles with sports anxiety.

“It is a scary thing, throwing your body 10-plus feet in the air,” she said. “And, if you don’t land on the mat, you can break something. Having to overcome a lot of fear and anxiety is probably my biggest challenge.”

Ferrell’s hard work and perseverance were also highlighted by her LT track coach, William Thomas.

“Leigh is extremely fun both as a person and an athlete,” he said. “She’s also very hard-working and tenacious when it comes to pole vault. You will not find anyone else that outworks her.   

After breaking the indoor pole vault record, jumping 11’1”, and tying the outdoor record at 11’, Ferrell is looking to have her strongest season yet with her improved focus and mindset.

“She has learned what it takes to become an athlete at the highest levels,” Thomas said. “She decided at least a couple of years ago that she wanted to give everything she had toward this event and it is paying off for her with good results.”

In addition to competing at LT, Ferrell has competed across the country, including at the Nike Outdoor Nationals this past summer in Oregon, where the Olympic trials were held three weeks later. 

“Travelling with poles is kind of funny because everyone’s always staring at you,” she said.

While Ferrell hopes to continue pole vaulting in college, it will not be a deciding factor in her college decision. 

“If I get the chance to do it at the school I want to go to, I’ll obviously take it,” she said. “But, if I want to go to a school where that’s not a possibility, then I think I’d find peace saying goodbye to it or maybe being on a club team.”

Ultimately, Ferrell’s love for her sport has made her the athlete she is today. 

“It’s one of those things where if it clicks right away, you just want to keep doing it.”