This is from New Englands in 2013?
Paige Suse signs her NLI while surrounded by her teammates. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
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on February 27, 2015 11:50 AM, updated February 27, 2015 12:27 PM
on February 27, 2015 11:50 AM, updated February 27, 2015 12:27 PM
When East Longmeadow high jumper Paige Suse signed her national letter of intent to compete in Division I track and field at Northeastern University, it was something that East Longmeadow coach Michael Budd had never been a part of.
Sure, Budd had sent his track athletes off to compete at the collegiate level before. But being able to celebrate it at the school with Suse’s family and teammates was a fun experience for everyone involved.
“It was cool having all of my teammates there and my parents and my grandma,” Suse said. “It was really exciting. I was nervous because I wasn’t sure what to say, but it all went well.”
Suse, a captain of the East Longmeadow track team, is the most accomplished indoor high jumper in Western Mass. history, according to Budd, and still has her final outdoor season to go. She jumped a PVIAC record 5’ 6’’ earlier this season and will be competing in the New England Championships Friday.
Suse competed at New Balance Nationals last season as well. For a girl who is only 5’ 8’’, her results have been extra impressive.
“All of the other girls in the high jump are well over 6-feet,” Budd said of her competition at the All-State level. “She is the only one who is 5-foot-8. I can’t teach height, I’m sorry, I can’t make people taller, but I just thought it was ironic that she beats a lot of people who are a lot taller than her in stature, but she goes right after them as if they are just another competitor.”
Suse has come a long way since when she first competed as a freshman. She only jumped 4’ 2’’ on her first jump attempt, and now consistently jumps at least a foot higher than that. It was that freshman year that she knew she wanted to compete at the collegiate level.
“Since freshman year I have wanted to do it,” Suse said. “That is what I have been working toward all this time.”
Suse only applied to two schools — the University of Vermont and Northeastern. She contacted the Northeastern coaching staff early in the year, which led to her connecting with the coach and going on an official visit.
“I just really liked the location right in Boston,” Suse said. “When I went on my official visit, the team was so welcoming and all of the coaches always kept in touch. That cemented it.”
While Suse is only set to high jump at Northeastern, she has shown the capability to be flexible in the events besides the high jump. She has hurdled, run relays and done the pole vault among other things at East Longmeadow to help the team pick up points.
“She has the capability of doing well in virtually anything she tries,” Budd said. “She has diversified her abilities, but high jumping is her thing. … She will do whatever it takes for us to win.”
Budd said he is very happy to have been able to coach her during her time at East Longmeadow.
“She is a hard worker, and certainly one of the best kids I have had,” Budd said. “I’ll tell you, ten years from now, she will probably be going into the hall of fame for our school.”
