Today’s episode of the RU Strong Podcast is a special one because I’m joined by three members of one remarkable athletic family: Colton, Macey, and Reece Emeott. The Emeott siblings grew up immersed in the championship track-and-field culture their father, Dave, helped build at East Kentwood High School in Michigan. All three became pole vaulters, competed at the collegiate level, and developed their own unique stories of success, adversity, and growth. Colton was a Michigan indoor and outdoor state champion and a New Balance Elite Pole Vault Champion. He began his college career at the University of Nebraska before transferring to Grand Valley State University, where he became a GLIAC champion and multiple-time national qualifier. Today, Colton is back at East Kentwood as a teacher and pole vault coach, helping carry forward the legacy that shaped him. Macey was a Michigan Division I state qualifier who continued her pole-vaulting career at Saginaw Valley State University. After an injury brought her competitive career to an unexpected end, she remained involved as a coach and discovered that her identity and purpose extended far beyond athletics. She is now pursuing her master’s degree in orthotics and prosthetics at Eastern Michigan University. Reece became the first three-time consecutive Michigan Division I state champion in the pole vault and helped East Kentwood capture a team state championship by a single point. Now competing at the University of Michigan, Reece is beginning the next chapter of his athletic and academic journey while studying economics. During our conversation, Colton, Macey, and Reece share what it was like to be coached by their father, grow up under the pressure of a championship legacy, compete alongside and learn from one another, and navigate the physical and mental challenges of college athletics. They also discuss injuries, athletic identity, trusting your coaches, handling expectations, and the importance of the family member working quietly behind the scenes, their mother, who helped make their success possible. This is a story about much more than pole vaulting or state championships. It is about family, resilience, sacrifice, mentorship, and using your experiences to positively influence the next generation. Please welcome to the RU Strong Podcast, Colton, Macey, and Reece Emeott.
