Vaulting high again
Student-athlete recaptures success after surviving gunshot wound
Sarah Haley ‘17 has had an outstanding Binghamton University career. A two-time America East pole vault champion, the political science and economics double-major is minoring in Spanish and has had a consistent spot on the America East Academic Honor Roll. She has also held two part-time jobs — one at the East Gym and the other as a waitress at the Park Diner. After commencement, she’ll make her first career stop at a Park Avenue accounting firm.
Hers is a success story that almost didn’t happen.
On March 31, 2016, Haley and her track and field teammates were on their way to the Colonial Relays at the College of William & Mary. At a rest stop in Richmond, Va., a gunman opened fire, killing a state trooper and injuring two people — Haley had been shot.
When she graduates on May 20, the ceremony will cap a journey back to normalcy following that dark day in Richmond. She is as strong and successful as she was before her left hip was grazed by a bullet.
Thanks to Haley’s upbringing and years at Binghamton, it’s not surprising to see how she overcame the near tragedy.
Small-town roots
Dover, N.Y., has a population of just under 9,000. One of the biggest gathering places is the
“Dover is a very family-oriented town,” Haley said. “Everyone knows everyone else. We don’t have a grocery store, so, the store is the place where everyone seems to meet up. The customers are always asking my boss how I am doing at Binghamton, and I try to find out how each of them is doing when I am gone. Every summer when I go back to Dover, I look forward to going back there to work.”
Dover is small, but Haley found plenty of role models growing up.
“I looked up to a lot of people,” she said. “My parents have always been very hard workers and my boss, Renny Abrams [the manager of Renny’s Store], has been one of my biggest mentors. My high school coach [Matt Pool] is one of my strongest supporters and still keeps tabs on me.”
Haley loved sports as a kid, but t
“I was originally into field hockey and softball,” she said. “By the time I was in high school I was more into field hockey in the fall. I decided to do track to keep in shape for field hockey but I fell in love with the sport. I knew as early as my sophomore year that track was what I wanted to do in college.”
Haley was in the National Honor Society in high school while working at Renny’s. In her senior year, she was seventh in the pole vault at the 2013 New York State Public High School Athletic Association Outdoor Track and Field Championships. It was a demanding schedule, but she thrived on being active.
“I loved to keep busy,” she said. “I’d get up
By the time she graduated from Dover High School in June 2013, Haley was well liked and respected throughout her hometown.
“Everybody loved her,” Abrams said. “She has a great personality and it’s so easy to talk with her. When people came into our store, they always were able to strike up a conversation with Sarah. Her doing so well in sports made her that much more respected.”
“She was a role model for everyone here,” Pool said. “It’s one thing to have talent in sports and be smart in school, but it’s another thing to work hard. She was very tenacious in everything she did, but she was also very approachable. She was a very genuine and nice person and people loved seeing her.”
A home away from home
Haley knew she wanted to compete in collegiate track and field, but she hadn’t decided on where. When she visited Binghamton University and met the coaches and athletes, she knew.
Since 1996, Binghamton University Track and Field Head Coach Mike Thompson has coached individual national champions at all three NCAA Division levels, and his teams consistently finish among the top three at the America East. Thompson, himself, was an NCAA pole vault champion and has authored a number of articles about the discipline.
When Haley first met Thompson, before the start of her senior year at Dover, she was impressed with the coach and the program.
“I was really nervous because it was the first time I was ever face-to-face with a college coach,” she said. “He is a laid back, down-to-earth coach. He is easy to talk to. Since he was so successful in the pole vault, I knew I could trust him in what he was talking about.”
Based on Haley’s best high school performances, it didn’t seem she could compete at the Division I level. But Thompson was struck by Haley’s demeanor. She had the right work ethic and attitude to succeed at Binghamton.
“I thought Sarah was a no-nonsense, disciplined person who was full of life and serious about reaching her potential,” he said. “I could tell she had goals and was not interested in wasting time in her attempt to reach those goals. Her high school marks really weren’t good enough to be considered for our team, but after meeting with her on her unofficial visit, I knew she would be a great student-athlete for us.”
Beyond track and field, Haley wanted to go to a good academic school. She had several recruiting visits lined up in fall 2012, but her official visit to Binghamton sealed her decision.
“I had recruiting trips planned, and Binghamton was the second one I took,” she said. “I came here and when I met the team, they all talked with me and made me feel like I had a place here already. I canceled the rest of my recruit trips because I knew this is where I wanted to be. I had no doubts.”
Dover High School’s Class of 2013 was about 100 students. The 2013 freshman class at Binghamton was several thousand. However, in the track and field program, Haley found a close-knit environment like that she grew up with.
“When I got here, my team became my family,” she said. “Those were the people that I hung out with. The dynamics didn’t change that much for me even though I was in a much larger school.”
Haley found mentors on the team similar to ones she had back home. The Binghamton women’s track and field team was second at the 2013 America East Outdoor Championships and the captains excelled both on the track and in the classroom.
“We had a really solid group of captains who were great role models,” Haley said. “They were always there for us. They answered any questions we had as freshmen, and their maturity level was great. We really looked up to them.”
Those upperclassmen saw Haley’s potential immediately.
Erika (Kisel) Holland was a senior captain on the 2013–14 team. She knew Haley was a terrific teammate and competitor.
“My first impression of Sarah in her freshman year was that she would be a great asset to our team,” Holland said. “Right from the beginning, she carried such a positive and confident attitude with her. You just knew she’d be successful.”
Kathleen Klein, another senior captain, shared the sentiment.
“Sarah was an incredibly happy person but was also a gutsy competitor,” she said. “She always showed up to practice with the biggest smile on her face, ready and willing to work hard, and ready to give a smile to anyone who needed it.”
Starting strong
Haley’s attitude and work ethic made her a perfect fit at Binghamton, and she excelled in the pole vault, but it was a running event that really caught the attention of the rest of the Bearcats.
“One of Sarah’s first indoor races was a 600, which is not something typically run in college,” Klein said. “She ran that thing all-out the entire way. I remember standing there watching with the entire team in terrified awe, being so afraid she had gone out too fast and wouldn’t be able to finish. She kept her composure and her speed the whole time and had a great finish. I remember all of us being so impressed with that.”
Haley won the pole vault title in her first conference meet — the 2014 America East Indoor Championships. Overall, the Binghamton men’s and women’s teams were runners-up for the first time in program history. Being a freshman at the
“When you are a freshman, you don’t fully understand everything that happens at a conference meet,” she said. “So for me to win the pole vault, I was just glad to help the team do well. I was happy but I didn’t appreciate how meaningful it was.”
Haley’s initial success was not a surprise to Thompson. His intuition about her after their first meeting was correct.
“I think Sarah had more responsibility placed on her in high school than the typical Binghamton track and field recruit,” Thompson said. “Freshmen often struggle with the transition from high school to college, but she already had the discipline necessary to handle it successfully.”
As she did in Dover, Haley stayed busy at Binghamton. By sophomore year, she was on the honor roll and working her part-time jobs.
“Obviously, college is a different tier, so everything is 10 times more challenging,” she said. “But it’s still all about good time-management and knowing what your limits are. For me, it came down to organizing my life, and once I did, I knew I’d be fine.”
Haley’s drive and congenial nature were appreciated by her Binghamton teammates. Jon Alkins and Danielle McLean both joined the program the same year as Haley, and they have become close friends.
“She has always had great drive and is a super-responsible person,” Alkins said. “It’s challenging enough to keep up with classes and track, but just imagine throwing two jobs into it. I wish I had the ability to balance everything she does and be as good doing it all.”
“Sarah is a strong person who is also selfless and fun-loving,” McLean said. “She is genuine and is there for all of her friends no matter what. She rarely puts herself first and is an amazing friend that always makes me laugh no matter what. I am so glad that I have her in my life.”
Haley became one of the top female pole vaulters in the America East. After the first title, she was third in the AE Outdoor Championships as a freshman, third at the conference indoor championships as a sophomore, and second in the pole vault at the 2016 America East Indoor Championships in her junior year.
The Bearcats were scheduled to start the 2016 outdoor season with the Colonial Relays at the College of William & Mary. The team’s travel plan put Haley and her teammates at the Richmond bus stop on March 31.
Shock
When shots rang out at that bus station, a bullet grazed Haley’s left hip.
She fell to the ground, realizing she had been shot.
The moment remains frozen in time.
“I didn’t know there was a shooting going on until I got shot,” she said. “The next thing I knew, I was on the ground. I felt a little something and then saw that I was bleeding. Everything happened so fast. It was by far the most frightening thing I have ever experienced.”
Haley was immediately rushed to a local hospital.
“It was terrifying for all of us,” Alkins said. “That is one of our best friends. At first, we didn’t know what was going on and if she was going to be OK.”
“I was getting a lot of information piece by piece through text messages,” Klein said. “For a while, the only information I had was that ‘Sarah got shot.’ I can’t even fathom what kind of horrifying experience that was for her, for her family and for the teammates that were with her.”
When the news reached Dover, the entire town felt the shock.
“Everybody came to the store with questions about how they could help,” Abrams said. “Some people actually thought about driving down there. I got phone calls and people coming into the store asking about her. A lot of people felt like it was one of their own family members that went through what she did.”
“Obviously, the people here in Dover were affected,” Pool said. “But I also got messages from track officials and people in other school districts asking how she was doing. She left a mark in this town and around the area and people remember somebody like that — especially when something this big happens.”
Haley’s parents drove eight hours from Dover to Virginia. Her teammates did everything they could.
“It meant a lot to have all the support that I did,” she said. “My parents came down, and I got so many messages from teammates letting me know that they were thinking of me. They weren’t asking for information, they just wanted me to know that they cared.”
Haley can’t remember everything from that first night, but one moment stood out.
“I got a knock on the door at two in the morning,” she said. “The nurse told me I had visitors and I had no idea who it was. (Binghamton Athletic Director) Pat Elliott and (Associate Athletic Director) Dave Simek walked in. It was incredible because they drove nine hours through the night to see me. They were supportive not just of me but of my teammates as well. That really stood out to me.”
The next morning, Haley was released from the hospital. She knew where she wanted to go. She went to the Colonia Relays.
“This event didn’t just affect me,” Haley said. “It had an effect on the team. Our team was down there to compete, and I wanted to cheer them on. I didn’t want to turn it into a situation where everyone was scared and wondering if I was OK. It is a community that I want to be with as much as possible.”
When she got to the meet, her presence was a huge morale booster.
“It was definitely encouraging to see her there,” Alkins said. “For her to be brave enough to come out to support us was really great to see.”
Senior Aziza Hawthorne has been Haley’s teammate and housemate at Binghamton. She was not at all surprised that Haley went to the meet.
“Sarah coming to the meet was a testament to her character,” she said. “For as long as I’ve known Sarah, she has consistently put others before herself. She’s incredibly strong and, despite her traumatizing experience, she put the team first and was in high spirits at the meet.”
Haley survived the shooting, but difficult days were ahead.
A time to heal
From a distance, it looked like Haley’s life was back to normal when the team returned from William & Mary. Close up, her journey back to normal was just beginning. Processing what she went through took months.
“I did compete the following weekend because I wanted to make a quick return to normalcy,” she said. “But I was really numb throughout the season. It was hard to put myself back into reality. My performances were not as great. It was really challenging.”
Like the rest of the team, Thompson was glad to see Haley back, but he began to notice that she wasn’t herself.
“Sarah and I did not talk a lot about the shooting immediately
With her academic, athletic and work schedules, Haley didn’t have time to stop and think that spring semester. But in summer 2016, she started coming to grips with the situation.
“After the season ended, I realized that I was just going through the motions,” she said. “I wasn’t finding the passion
It was post-traumatic stress from the shooting. Haley felt separated from the outside world, just as many others with post-traumatic stress have.
“I was numb to everything,” she said. “Not just track. My friendships,
Gradually, Haley began taking steps forward. She reached out to friends,
“There were so many people I could turn to,” she said. “Everyone was there for me and that meant a lot.”
The shooting had a profound effect on the entire Binghamton track and field program. Already a close-knit group, the shooting cemented bonds further.
“During the months after the shooting, we were all very shaken up,” McLean said. “Nobody understood what we went through except for us. We all were there for each other and made sure that Sarah never had to spend any time alone. We tried to do many activities in order to try to keep our minds off the shooting. The incident brought us closer than ever.”
Despite the strong support, returning to form in the pole vault was tough for Haley. Thompson noticed that she was still struggling when the 2016–17 indoor season started.
“I remember Sarah had a really difficult time at the Cornell Relays in December,” he said. “I could tell where she was mentally. Through all of the difficult moments, I just tried to support her one day at a time.”
Haley refused to give in.
“I wanted to find myself again,” she said. “I wanted to dig myself out of this and work my way back to what I really love doing.”
Finally, gradually, numbness began to melt into feelings of gratitude.
“I started coming to the realization of how lucky I was,” she said. “I started to look back and appreciate how fortunate I was to have the chance to continue doing what I loved.”
A champion again
Video from The Poughkeepsie Journal
At the America East Indoor Championships in February, Haley was ready emotionally and physically. She had not won a conference title since freshman year, but she had a good feeling going into the pole vault competition.
“I came into the meet [feeling] confident,” she said. “And I hadn’t had confidence in a long time. I had a great feeling and was telling myself that I wasn’t going to lose.”
It took a jump-off, but after she cleared 12’ 5.5” one final time, Haley was the champion. She hadn’t fully appreciated the title as a freshman, but she savored this one.
“It was a completely different feeling from freshman year,” she said. “This championship meant a lot to me since it was my last indoor meet and because it helped me heal even more from the shooting. I definitely needed it going into my last outdoor season.”
Thompson will remember Haley’s win for a long time.
“Sarah’s showing at the America East Championships was tremendous,” he said. “Had last year’s incident never happened, Sarah’s performance still would have been the best of anyone on the team that weekend. But considering the context of the situation, I feel it is one of the best performances in my time at Binghamton.”
Haley’s victory was emotional in many ways for her teammates.
“All of us had gathered around the runway during the jump-off,” Alkins said. “We love Sarah and knew how bad she wanted to win. When she cleared the bar for the last time, we all celebrated with her. We all know what she went through, and there were a lot of tears.”
“Sarah winning the indoor pole vault title was incredible,” Hawthorne said. “Her win was the greatest satisfaction and a testament to how good an athlete and person she is. Sarah truly deserved the win because she is an incredible girl.”
The town of Dover, in shock 11 months earlier, was euphoric.
“I teach social studies, and my last class that day was able to watch the live-streaming video of her competing,” Pool said. “I showed my class a photo of Sarah when she competed here and everyone was very excited when she won.”
“There was a lot of conversation about her win here at the store,” Abrams said. “I knew she won right away because Sarah is friends with my daughter, but when the Poughkeepsie Journal ran a big story on her victory, everyone was so happy here. They love to see Sarah do well.”
While everyone was happy, they were not surprised Haley had come all the way back.
“I am not shocked at all that Sarah bounced back from the shooting the way she has,” Holland said. “It’s amazing that she took such an awful moment in her life and persevered. She showed so much strength and tenacity. What an amazing inspiration.”
“She is a tough kid,” Pool said. “I knew she would tackle that just like she did anything in the classroom, at home or on the track.”
The final chapter
Haley finished second in the pole vault at the 2017 America East Outdoor Championships — losing a jump-off to Vermont’s Grace Weisbecker. Next she participated in the ECAC Championships at Princeton University. And on May 1, at the Binghamton University Athletic Department’s Annual Awards Banquet, Haley was presented with the John Bilos Award for the graduating male and female seniors who have had the most prolific athletic careers at Binghamton for their class.
Eyes were wet during a standing ovation as she went to the stage. Athletic Director Patrick Elliott — who drove those nine hours to see Haley in the hospital — presented her with the award.
Haley talks about her award. She appears third (2:12).
“Getting this award feels amazing,” she said. “I hoped that I would make a difference on the track team and that my work ethic would help me to accomplish my goals. I am really honored, and I have had teammates that have meant everything to me these past four years.”
The award meant just as much to Haley’s teammates.
“We were beyond happy and so proud of her when her name was called,” Alkins said. “After everything she has been through and all that she has accomplished, we knew how much she deserved that award.”
With her track career ending, Haley has left a mark on the program just as she did back in her hometown.
“Sarah has been a leader by example,” Thompson said. “She was serious yet easygoing at the same time, and her discipline on and off of the track showed her fellow track athletes the proper way to successfully manage academics and athletics at Binghamton University.”
“I’m going to remember Sarah as one of the strongest, most selfless people I have ever known,” Hawthorne said. “Sarah has overcome so much throughout her life, and she is still positive enough to lend a helping hand to anyone. I am definitely going to remember Sarah as a person whose characteristics I would be proud to develop during my lifetime.”
“Sarah has never failed to put a smile on my face, no matter what mood I was in,” McLean said. “I will remember her as a great athlete, an even better friend and all-around incredible person.”
Even though she came to campus well-grounded, Haley knows Binghamton University helped her grow. She found comfort after near tragedy, a track and field program to flourish in and an academic community that opened doors to her future.
“Binghamton University and the people here have molded me into the person that I am today,” she said. “I feel a lot more mature and responsible. My work ethic has increased, and the people I have met here have helped me to become a better person. I am really happy I chose to come here and would never take back that decision.”