LeLeux moves into top 10 all-time for indoor prep performers, Pitman already showing signs of big final year at Ithaca College

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

RENO, Nev. -- Whether it’s the prowess of Lafayette senior Armand “Mondo” Duplantis or the success of her older sister Morgann LeLeux, the talent of Catholic-New Iberia senior Reagann LeLeux might have been underappreciated thus far in her high school career, not only in Louisiana, but throughout the country.

Following her performance Saturday at the UCS Spirit National Pole Vault Summit, Reagann demonstrated she is ready for the spotlight in her final prep season.

Reagann cleared a personal-best 13-10 (4.22m) to win the girls elite high school competition at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center, equal to the No. 10 all-time indoor prep performer.

“My goal for this year indoor-wise is to jump 14 (feet), 14-plus, I’ll take the plus because I don’t want to stop myself at just 14, but outdoors I really want to jump 15 (feet), outdoors is 15 for sure. I have big, big goals this year. I have a lot I want to accomplish. I’m just ready and I’m excited,” said Reagann, who surpassed Morgann’s best indoor high school effort of 13-8.25 (4.17m) from 2011.

“I got my head together, I know exactly what I want to do, I know how I want to do it. I want to go far in life. This year is my big chance and I’m doing everything I can to get to that spot.”

Reagann entered the year with an indoor personal-best 12-4.75 (3.78m), along with clearing 12-8 (3.86m) outdoors. In her first indoor meet Jan. 6 at LSU, she cleared 13-6.25 (4.12m), then improved on that mark Saturday on her third attempt at 13-10.

Reagann, who eclipsed the Louisiana indoor record of 13-9.25 (4.20m) set in 2008 by Rachel Laurent of Vandebilt Catholic, continues to pursue Morgann’s 2011 outdoor state mark of 14-2.75 (4.34m).

“It’s all mentality. My biggest enemy is myself, which is my mind, and that is my biggest growth,” Reagann said. “It’s all about how positive I’ve become. I won’t stop myself on anything, anymore. I let myself go. I already know how to pole vault, I already know how to do all of this, it’s just my mind was my biggest enemy and now it’s my best friend. There is no stopping me now, I’m ready.”

Ellie Talius, a junior at Eastlake, cleared a personal-best 13-6 (4.11m) on her first attempt to place second, continuing to close in on the 2016 Washington indoor state record of 13-7.25 (4.15m) held by Abby Weiler of R.A. Long.

“I’ve been working really hard in the offseason, so it’s just great,” Talius said. “I know there’s so much more to come this year, so I’m really excited. I feel like I’ve really matured, especially as a competitor, and my mental game has gotten a lot better.”

Ithaca College senior Katherine Pitman won the women’s college elite competition, clearing 13-7.25 (4.15m).
Pitman, the reigning NCAA Division 3 indoor champion who also captured the 2016 outdoor title, is still looking to clear 14 feet indoors after surpassing the barrier twice outdoors last year, including a personal-best 14-1.25 (4.30m).

“We’re doing a lot of speed work and mini hurdles and I feel like in terms of vault, it’s really starting to translate well,” Pitman said. “I’ve seen a lot of gains in practice and I think it’s starting to translate in preseason jumps, being over 4 meters the first three meets of the year, so it’s a really great sign for an awesome season, but I’m hoping for more to come, for sure.”