Weber Sisters Vault Into Nationals
David R. Cohen is the former Associate Editor of the Atlanta Jewish Times. He is originally from Marietta, GA and studied Journalism at the University of Tennessee.
Pole vaulting may be one of the most difficult sports, but two sisters from the Weber School make it look easy.
In April, Becky and Ariel Arbiv finished first and second in the pole vault at the Georgia Independent School Association track and field state championships, earning the sisters spots in the U.S. track and field national junior championships July 25 to 31. At nationals, both finished in the top six of their age groups while setting personal records in the pole vault.
Becky, now a senior, finished third among the 17- and 18-year-old girls with a jump of 3.8 meters (12 feet 5½ inches). It was the second-highest jump of all time for a girl from Georgia. Ariel, a sophomore, jumped 3.5 meters (11 feet 6 inches), good enough for sixth in the 15-to-16-year-old girls division.
The sisters come from a family of athletes. Brother Jordan, a junior at Weber, plays basketball and soccer, and their father played professional soccer in Israel. Their mother was a high school athlete and is an active runner.
“All three of the Arbivs are leaders on and off the field and are shining examples of what a student-athlete should be,” Weber Athletic Director David Moore said. “When I tell people about the Weber Rams, I tell them about Becky, Ariel and Jordan Arbiv. We have experienced nothing but great attitudes from all three. They each have their own special personality, but each brings it every day and works as hard as they can.”
In addition to pole vaulting, Becky Arbiv has played volleyball and basketball for Weber and is widely recognized as the school’s top female athlete.
Ariel has a chance, however, to push her sister’s athletic achievements by the time she graduates. Besides finishing second to her sister in the region and state in the pole vault, Ariel was also the top runner on Weber’s cross country team as a freshman.
Weber’s track and field team competes in the spring.
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