"I just try to think as I'm one of them. But I think, in reality, I think to myself, I've been jumping just as long as any of these kids. I've been jumping since I was a toddler. And I'm just as experienced as them. I think that's what pole vaulting more about. It's not so much age. It's more experience." -- Mondo Duplantis, 15, after setting a freshman national record at the Texas Relays in the pole vault.
Here at MileSplit, we have the benefit of watching athletes develop before our eyes.
Sometimes, success at the high school level paves the way for much more. For a select few, like Mondo Duplantis (above), they become the rare athlete who blossom into the ranks of the best in the world.
Over the last few weeks, we've been tracking all-decade lists in each event, looking back at just how good athletes were within their specific classes.
We've compiled all our links into a hub, so feel free to peruse and check out the rankings to see how athletes have risen over their career timelines....