Virginia Tech signs No. 1 All-American pole vaulter Rachel Baxter

On Monday Nov. 21, Virginia Tech broke the news that high school senior pole vaulter and star athlete, Rachel Baxter, has signed her National Letter of Intent to come to Blacksburg for the 2017–2018 season. The senior signs as not only the No. 4 on the United States list of high school athletes, but also as the No. 1 nationally ranked pole vaulter, according to Track and Field News.

The top recruit will come to Blacksburg from Canyon High School in Anaheim Hills, California, where she earned her rankings and was the 2016 California State Champion.

At Canyon, Baxter also set the current California state pole vaulting height record of 14 feet 3 inches, beating her own previous record she set two weeks prior.

The O.C. Girls Athlete of the Year has not only has experienced high school success, but also obtained a spot in the 2015 World Youth Championship, where she earned a silver medal for Team USA. Additionally, she won the U.S. Junior Championship and earned her second straight invitation to the 2016 World Championship in Bydgoszcz, Poland, where she finished in 10th place.

Baxter not only pole vaults, but has also competed in the 100-meter high jump and 400-meter relay team her freshman year. It will be interesting to see if she focuses on pole vaulting or expands her participation to other events as well.

The senior will defend her high school title one last year before joining the Hokies for their indoor season under head coach Dave Cianelli and pole vault coach Bob Phillips.