PARKERSBURG – Track is not necessarily Sydney Kopshina’s primary sport.

Which makes what she is doing as a pole vaulter even more impressive.

Friday at the Erickson Invitational, the senior from Ritchie County broke the school record formerly owned by Parkersburg South pole vaulting coach Kelli Barker. Kopshina cleared the bar with a winning height of 11 feet, 1.25 inches.

Barker set the school record at 11-1 in 2008. Kopshina’s high school coach, Lindsey Garrett, pole vaulted at Ole’ Miss.

“I’ve been shooting for this for four years – since my freshman year,” said Kopshina, who is currently ranked No. 1 among Class A pole vaulters. “I did my normal routine — everything felt good coming out of the jump. My run felt fine. I knew once I jumped up into the takeoff, I knew I needed to drop my shoulder back and commit to the jump.I didn’t entirely commit, so I’m looking more that I can get more out of myself.

“When I landed, I knew I didn’t need a bar watch.”

Emotions were overwhelming for all involved when Kopshina fell to the mat on the successful vault – starting with Garrett herself who was the first to greet her to Kopshina’s family watching from atop the hill near the pole vault pit.

“It was awesome when I greeted my family,” Kopshina said. “They were super-excited for me. They know I’ve been looking forward to this. They are ecstatic. They are just as happy as I am.”

Through the years, Kopshina loved to jump. Basically the reason why the Class A first team, all-state volleyball player is headed to Salem University to focus on that sport at the next level.

“Volleyball is actually my main sport, but I picked up track in middle school – pole vault was something to pick up and enjoy,” Kopshina said. ”

Funny thing, Ritchie County wasn’t scheduled to compete at the Erickson Invitational. The Rebels were originally slated to be part of the field at a meet hosted by Clay-Battelle.

“Something about the weather – it’s pretty here,” Kopshina said. “Finally we have gotten some good weather under our belts. I just decided, we are going into conference (next week) – I want to go into it confidently, I beat the school record.”

On the advice of her coach, Kopshina decided to forego 11-4 and attempt the meet record of 11-6. She missed on all three tries. Regardless, she is pumped that her pole vault record will be displayed in the high school gymnasium back in Ellenboro.

“I actually had a rough week of practice this week. I wasn’t able to make practice Monday and Tuesday. I was pretty sick. So I was a little discouraged coming into this meet. Figured just try and it and do our best.”

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com