BENNINGTON, Vt. — The Southern Vermont College outdoor track & field coaching staff has selected freshman Isaiah Backels (Derry, N.H.) as the team's Athlete of the Week for its meet on April 16, 2016 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Backels won the pole vault at R.P.I.'s Upstate Classic, placing first in his event for the third straight week. He pushed himself off the pole to clear the bar at a high mark of 4.20 meters on Saturday, coming just .20 meters short of his SVC record height. Still, that was .15 higher than any other participant at the Classic.

"He is coming on strong and is making a mark for himself and SVC in this event," said Southern Vermont head coach Kathleen Newton of her freshman pole vaulter. "He is qualified for Division III New England's and is not far off from qualifying for ECAC's."

Backels earned his way to compete at May 7's Division III New England Championship at Springfield College a week earlier with his season-top mark of 4.40 meters. He is working his way to hit the 4.50 meter vault necessary to qualify for the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III Championship in late May.

"As a freshman competing against strong competition, Isaiah remains calm, focused, and ready to challenge himself each meet," Newton added. "Watching him vault and soar is exciting!"

Backels and the Mountaineers are set to compete again this Saturday, going up against a strong field at the University at Albany's Spring Classic.

Previous SVC Athletes of the Week
April 4: Cameron Michael Curtiss (Sr. – Milton, Vt.)
April 11: Marc Brandmeyer (So. – Bennington, Vt.)