The Scoop: Recapping A Massive Weekend Of Action At New Balance Nationals Indoor


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