Gordon signs to vault at Kentucky

photo Chattanooga Christian School's Nicolette Gordon competes in the A-AA pole vault.

After going from unknown to state champion in the span of just a couple of months last spring, Nicolette Gordon took the next step and signed a track and field scholarship with the University of Kentucky on Wednesday.

The Chattanooga Christian senior took up pole vaulting last year, after a gymnastics career that left her with two knee surgeries, and wound up winning the Class A/AA state title by clearing 12 feet, which was nearly four inches higher than the second-place finisher.

"I'm super excited," said Gordon, who chose Kentucky over offers from Tennessee, South Carolina and Belmont. "Kentucky has the best balance of what I'm looking for academically and as a vaulter.

"The best part is now I can concentrate on my senior season and not worry about getting a scholarship or where I'm going to be going. I can just prepare myself mentally for my goals this spring."

Gordon said her goal this season is to break the state meet record of 12 feet, 7 inches.

Baylor's Selena Popp, who has been one of the area's most versatile track athletes for three years, also signed scholarship papers Wednesday, with Samford University.

Popp, who won the state pentathlon as a sophomore, finished third in that grueling event last season and went on to finish second in the high jump and fourth in the triple jump and medaled in the 100 meters. Her sophomore year she also won the 100-meter hurdles and high jump and was second in the 300 hurdles and third in the triple jump.

"I'm so happy to have figured out early what my future will be," said Popp, who will join former Baylor hurdler Victoria Wicks at Samford. "It all just fit me so well there. I loved the campus and all the other athletes I met, so I'm excited to see what I can do at the next level."

Signal Mountain distance runner Mallory Young will sign with Belmont University on Monday. Young led the Lady Eagles cross country team to consecutive state championships and also helped the track team claim the 2014 A/AA meet, where she won the 1600 meters and finished second in the 800 and third in the 3200.

Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-293.

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