Chloe Cunliffe Sets Outdoor National Record In Pole Vault


* West Seattle's Chloe Cunliffe cleared 14-8 on her first attempt Saturday night

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A week earlier, Chloe Cunliffe was shaky in the air at The Texas Relays. 

But what a difference a week makes. 

The West Seattle (WA) senior athlete shook off an up-and-down outing in Austin, Texas, on March 31 and came back motivated on Saturday at the Arcadia Invitational in California, netting a new national record in the girls pole vault by clearing 14 feet, 8 inches on her first attempt. It's her second national record in ensuing seasons. 

Read: Cunliffe Breaks Indoor National Record At All-Comers Meet

The Washington State University signee surpassed Lexi Weeks, who netted the previous national record of 14-7.5 in 2015. Cunliffe holds an eight-inch lead on the next best girls pole vaulter nationally. 

Cunliffe's series wasn't perfect, but it got the job done. The senior cleared 13-1 on her first attempt, then netted makes on her second attempts at 13-5 and 13-9 before needing a last gasp clearance at 14-3 to stay alive. 

By that point, she was all alone. 

Read: Chloe Cunliffe Skyrocketing Up Pole Vaulting World

And maybe that momentum shifted over, as she cleared 14-8 on her very next attempt. 

A week earlier, Cunliffe arrived in Austin, Texas, in the girls elite section of the pole vault. But the pre-event favorite struggled, finishing third overall after failing to clear 14-feet. 

So consistency continues to be a process for the elite pole vaulter, who cleared 14-9 indoors at an All-Comers meet in Tacoma, Washington, in late March.

Saturday's evening was certainly possible for Cunliffe, though she made it look easy. 


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