(Photo from ArkansasVaultClub.org)
New US #1's in the pole vault came from Arkansas for the girls in Cabot High School junior Lexi Weeks clearing 13'0.25" at the Jack Frost Vault Meet on January 4th, while not exactly a freshly new US leader in the boys' pole vault (but just recently discovered by MileSplit) in a national best clearance of 17'1" from Texas by Corsicana High School senior Noah Gilfillan at the Pole Vault Explosion meet on December 28th in Belton, Texas.
Lexi Weeks and twin sister Tori Weeks (12'6.75" at the Jack Frost Vault Meet) are now ranked US #1 and US #3 in the event. Lexi was an Arkansas state champion as well as Arkansas meet of champions winner last year, while her twin Tori has been competing right behind her vaulting consistently over 12 feet In major competitions.
Gilfillan was a Texas 4A state runner-up in the pole vault and ended his spring with a third place finish and season best clearance of 16'5.25" at the Great Southwest Classic, so the 17'1" clearance was a significant improvement and start to his senior year.
The boys' pole vault national landscape has increased in elevation rather quickly in recent weeks. Todd Uckermark of Warwick Valley in New York has been the dominant vaulter in the Northeast with several clearances over 16 feet including a US #2 season best of 16'9". Two more vaulters opened their indoor seasons with going up and over the bar above 16 feet this past weekend in Devin King from Louisiana (16'6" at Ice Breaker Invite in Alabama) and Luke Winder from Illinois (16'4.75" at First to the Finish Line Indoor Northern Championships). King, a senior from Sumner High School and top returnee in nation from last year, cleared over 17 feet twice last year, while Uckermark and Winder are knocking on the door of their first 17 foot clearances.
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