Calvary Christian wins the Class 1A state track championship

Emily Gale of Calvary Christian high school clears 11'6" in the girls pole vault. (Joshua Cruey / April 27, 2012)

JACKSONVILLE — Standing sister-next-to-sister on the awards podium after the girls pole vault Friday during the Class 1A state track and field championships at the University of North Florida was a dream-come-true for Calvary Christian twins Emily and Amanda Gale.

Emily won her second consecutive state title with a 12-foot, 6-inch vault and barely missed setting a state record on all three tries at 13-0, getting her feet over the bar on each attempt but nicking it on the way down with her calves each time. Amanda finished second with a personal best 11-6.

"It meant a lot for us to stand next to each other on the podium," said Amanda. "We are each other's biggest competition, but we are also each other's biggest supporter."

Said Emily: "Last year was different because I was chasing [the competitors] down. This year there was a little more stress because I was the favorite."