National Weekend Rundown for May 7

Chris Nilsen Clears 18 Feet in Pole Vault, No. 9 in History!

Park Hill, Missouri senior Chris Nilsen cleared 18'-0" in the pole vault last night to become the ninth-best pole vaulter in U.S. history.

He is the tenth vaulter to clear 18 feet and the ninth vaulter to clear the height outdoors. 

The mark was a six inch personal best for the University of South Dakota commit, who set his prior top mark of 17'-6.5" at the Kansas Relays two weeks ago.

"I think it was just a relaxed environment!" he said. "I had all of my friends and family there and I came in when everyone was done so it was just a fun meet!"

He said the 18-foot barrier has been on his mind since clearing 17 feet at the Missouri state meet last year. 

"When I jumped that, I realized that I wasn't done yet and I could keep going," he said.

His next goal is to clear 18'-4" and break the national high school record set by Shawn Barber in 2012. If he clears 18-4, the next number is 18'-6.5."

View a video of the 18 foot clearance, courtesy of the @PH_Track_Field instagram:



View the new U.S. all-time top ten list below.

markathleteschoolyear
18-3.5Shawn BarberKingwood, TX2012
18-3Tommy SkipperSandy, OR2003
18-2.25Eric EshbachOrangefield, TX1999
18-2Brandon RichardsSan Marcos, CA1985
18-1.25Joe DialMarlow, OK1981
18-0.5Devin KingSumner, LA2014
18-0.5iMondo Duplantis Lafayette, LA2016
18-0.25Jack WhittNorth, OK2009
18-0APat MansonCentral, CO1986
18-0 Chris NilsenPark Hill, MO2016

i = indoors
A = Altitude