Toto Makes History with State Title

BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer
January 17th, 2005
The Independant

The honor of being the first girl’s indoor state pole vaulting champion went, fittingly, to Middletown South’s Julianne Toto. Sunday at Princeton University, the senior took advantage of the NJSIAA including the pole vault in the indoor state championships for the first time by capturing the Group III state title.

“I was pretty nervous because I was expected to do well,” said Toto. “It’s so special to have won it. My name is in the record book.” Toto’s 12-foot-0 topped Kristen Hafford’s 11-6 at the first-ever indoor championships. By the time Toto, who has the best pole vault of the year in the state, 12-5 3/4, entered the competition at 10-6, it was down to just two competitors, her and Warren Hills’ Hafford. No one else went higher than 9-0. Toto quickly took charge by clearing every height, 10-6, 11-0 and 11-6 on her first attempt. It took her two attempts to fly over the bar at 12-0, a height that Hafford could not negotiate.

Since this was the first state championship for the vaulters, Toto picked up a meet record as well. “It’s so cool”