Zachery Bradford had doubters on his mind before Saturday's pole vault championship at New Balance Nationals Indoor.
MileSplit Illinois editor Tony Jones said Bradford watched this week's MileSplit LIVE, which had commentators discussing whether the pole vault would have any luster with the absence of Mondo Duplantis and Sondre Guttormsen.
It certainly did.
The Bloomington (IL) High senior brushed off any haters with a phenomenal 18 foot, 0.5 inch clearance to win the boys pole vault, inching past Lees Summit (MO) High senior KC Lightfoot, who went back-and-forth with Bradford throughout.
LIghtfoot was second with a clearance of 17-9 and Max Manson was third in 16-9.25.
Bradford became just the second athlete to clear 18-feet indoors with his attempt, moving into the US No. 2 pole position as he earned his first national indoor title.
Bradford and Lightfoot both cleared 17-9 on their first attempts.
But It was Bradford who nailed his 5.50 meter attempt on his last try. He went up to 18-2 before ending his run.
Finals
1 Bradford, Zachery 18 Bloomington, IL 5.50m 18-00.50
4.36 4.51 4.66 4.81 4.91 5.01 5.11 5.21 5.31 5.41 5.50 5.54
PPP PPP PPP PPP PPP O O XO O O XXO XXX
2 Lightfoot, KC 18 Lees Summit, MO 5.41m 17-09.00
4.36 4.51 4.66 4.81 4.91 5.01 5.11 5.21 5.31 5.41 5.50
PPP PPP PPP PPP PPP O PPP O O O XXX
3 Manson, Max 19 Superior, CO 5.11m 16-09.25
4.36 4.51 4.66 4.81 4.91 5.01 5.11 5.21
PPP PPP PPP O O O XXO XXX
4 Evans, Spencer 20 Mooresville, NC 5.01m 16-05.25
4.36 4.51 4.66 4.81 4.91 5.01 5.11
PPP O XO O O O XXX
5 Crispi, Charles 18 Staten Island, NY J5.01m 16-05.25
4.36 4.51 4.66 4.81 4.91 5.01 5.11
PPP PPP O XO XO XO XXX
6 Dever, Charley 18 Thornton, PA J5.01m 16-05.25
4.36 4.51 4.66 4.81 4.91 5.01 5.11
PPP O O XO XXO XXO XXX
7 Rice, Harrison 18 Richmond, VA 4.91m 16-01.25
4.36 4.51 4.66 4.81 4.91 5.01
PPP PPP O XO O XXX
8 Morris, Payton 18 Enola, PA J4.91m 16-01.25
4.36 4.51 4.66 4.81 4.91 5.01
PPP XO O O XO XXX
Related Links: