Finally...pole vault for girls
http://www.vaultchicago.com/newsarticles/PVLawsuitPushesIHSA.htm
Several girls were interested in the pole vault. In fact, 84 schools in IL had girls who were vaulting. But girls were not allowed to compete. Some secretly entered competitions on Tuesdays with the boys with coaches who allowed them into their meets with the promise that they wouldn't be included in results and "no one would know". Many girls just practiced, hoping to improve their heights with the knowledge that they would never, ever, get to compete. Pole vault was just "Too dangerous" for females. In 2001, one female athlete from Rosary High School decided enough was enough. With her father a lawyer, they took the case to the IHSA and demanded they add girls pole vault. For other girls in the state, the IHSA decision to add it was life changing. All of a sudden, they could compete, legally, with girls, and at the state meet.
The first year they had pole vault, there were no qualifying standards. The top two from each sectional were able to go and that was that. The state had no idea what they would get heightwise. Many of the girls had already been vaulting and clearing heights higher than some boys. For many others, pole vault was never heard of before and 6 feet was the best at some sectionals.
"Technically, girls could always pole vault during the regular track season. Boyle pole vaulted with the New Trier boys team during the indoor season this year, but is not sure if that will continue with the new ruling. Also, before the ruling, if a female pole vaulter achieved the qualifying standard of 13 feet, 6 inches, she would have been able to compete in the boys state meet. Boyle's highest vault was a 12-4." (Quoted from the article)
Boyle ended up winning the first IHSA state pole vault championship in class AA in 2001 with a vault of 11'6". Class A was won with a vault of 10'0".*
Oswego HS first had a girl compete in 2002 in the state meet, the second overall year of female competition in the state of IL. She had been vaulting before with the boys on the team.
IHSA State Records** (Oswego is Class 3A)
IHSA — 13-4, Lindsey Murray, Harrisburg, 2014 (finals)
Class 1A — 13-0, Morgan Zacharias, Braidwood (Reed-Custer), 2015 (finals)
Class 2A — 13-4, Lindsey Murray, Harrisburg, 2014 (finals)
Class 3A — 13-3, Sarah Landau, Geneva, 2004 (finals)
*There were only two classes of competition at this point in time. The IHSA went to a 3 class system in 2008.
**The records from AA in 2008 were transferred to 3A and all new 2A records were formed from 2008-present.