Jillian Swartz Duke Article on her

[Bruce Caldwell]

http://www.dukemagazine.duke.edu/dukema ... pics/bios/

Jillian Schwartz '01

Jillian Schwartz ’01 had never pole vaulted before getting to college. But she learned quickly. Throughout her Duke career, she set records for both indoor and outdoor pole vault with heights of 13’5.25’’ and 14’2’’, respectively, became Duke’s top hurdler and high jumper as a sophomore, and was named Most Valuable Athlete for Duke women’s track & field in 1999. The Jonesboro, Arkansas native is a three-time All-America selection, a four time All-ACC honoree, and was the only Blue Devil named to the ACC 50th Anniversary Women’s Indoor Track & Field Team. Schwartz has been training for the Olympics since she graduated three years ago with a degree in economics. She placed 4th at the World Championships earlier in the year with a remarkable 15’1’’ vault, becoming only the fifth America woman to break 15 feet. The finals for the women’s pole vault will be on August 24.