Simmons completed a memorable high school career by winning the girls pole vault at the Midwest Meet of Champions, a track and field event featuring some of the top seniors from Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. Her winning height of 13 feet, 1 inch was the third best of her career.
No one has beaten Simmons outdoors since 2012, when she finished seventh at the Division II state meet. She ended her career with two straight state titles and the all-time Ohio girls record of 13-4 1/4 set last week.
It came as no surprise the coaches voted Simmons to lead her team in on a day Ohio swept the boys and girls team titles.
“I felt very privileged to,” Simmons said. “I thought it was really awesome that they picked me. I’m very grateful for that.”
Simmons cleared four of her first five heights and would have won at 12-6. Her only miss came on her first try at 12-0, but she quickly regrouped on her second try and moved on.
“I started off not so great,” Simmons said. “… I couldn’t really get settled in. I don’t know what that was about.
“I kind of took it as a fun meet and the last high school meet ever. I was coming out here to have fun. If I PR, great. If not, then try to break the meet record.”
Simmons broke the meet record when she vaulted 13-1. Then she aimed to really have fun when she attempted to jump two inches higher than the 13-4 1/4 she hit at last week’s state meet.
She almost did it on her third and final try.
“I believe that would have put me in the top five in the nation,” Simmons said. “We knew that it was there from the state meet.”
Simmons ends her career with four state championships, including two indoor titles. She also went undefeated during the 2014 indoor season.
A well-deserved break will come before Simmons starts preparing for her first season at Ohio State.
“My coach from Ohio State was here today, and he also told me to take a break,” Simmons said. “I’m going on vacation with my family. I’ve been looking forward to a break because going into college I’m going to be vaulting basically 24/7. It’s going to be just like it was in high school.
“I’m glad I get a break. I’m not going to be tired out going into college. I’m going to be refreshed and eager to come back and vault for Ohio State.”