Jana Shipley

Last updated
Jana Edwards Shipley
Sport
Sport Athletics
Event pole vault

Jana Edwards Shipley was a record holder in the women's pole vault.

Contents

Early life

Shipley is a native of Galena, Ohio and attended Big Walnut High School. [1] She attended Ohio State University, where she competed in track and cross country, and graduated in 1979 with a degree in physical education. [2] [3] She then attended the same university to receive a master's degree in sports management in 1981. [1]

Career

Athletics

The then Jana Edwards record four world records in the women’s pole vault: [4] • 3.05 m in June 1983 in Chicago. [5] • 3.34 m on 16 July 1983 in Tillsonburg. • 3.50 m and 3.59 m on 23 July 1983 in Fort Wayne.

Note 1: The marks are unofficial because the IAAF did not list an official world record in the event until 1994.

Note 2: Edwards became the first women to surpass 3.50 m. [6]

Shipley had learned to pole vault in 1980 teaching male athletes whilst working as a track coach in a school in Big Walnut. [7]

Coaching

Shipley became the head women's track and field coach at Ohio Wesleyan University in 1980 and remained there until 1985. [2]

Between 1987 and 1991 she was a golf coach at Ohio State University. She resigned from her coaching position in 1991. [8]

She later became a golf coach, at Ohio Wesleyan, working there until 2020 when the program was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. [9]

Awards and honors

In 1996, Shipley was inducted into the Ohio Wesleyan Hall of Fame. [10]

References

  1. 1 2 "Jana Shipley - Women's Golf Coach". Ohio Wesleyan University Athletics. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  2. 1 2 "Jana Edwards named coach". The Lima News. 1987-07-10. p. 22. Retrieved 2025-06-13 via Newspapers.com.
  3. Chay, Ed (1983-01-10). "Edwards sets world mark in women's pole vault". The Plain Dealer. p. 29. Retrieved 2025-06-13 via Newspapers.com.
  4. Progression of IAAF World Records 2011 Edition, Editor Imre Matrahazi, IAAF Athletics, p. 550.
  5. "Edwards sets world pole vault record". The Delaware Gazette. 1983-06-16. p. 15. Retrieved 2025-06-13 via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Women's pole vault record". World Athletics.
  7. "Former college coach Jana Shipley to speak at HOJQA Banquet". Marion Star. Retrieved 21 July 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. "Hession replacing Shipley as OSU women's golf coach". The Delaware Gazette. 1991-07-16. p. 8. Retrieved 2025-06-13 via Newspapers.com.
  9. Yaokum, Lee (1987-08-01). "Lady Buckeye golf program may owe huge debt to OWU". The Delaware Gazette. p. 5. Retrieved 2025-06-13 via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Strong Links". Ohio Wesleyan University. Retrieved 2025-06-13.