Jacob Blankenship, who will be a senior next year at Gahanna Lincoln, has been selected as part of Team USA for IAAF World Youth Championship in Lille, France. Blankenship qualified for the team by winning the Pole Vault at the USATF World Youth Trials in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with a jump of 4.90m (16-0.75).
Blankenship's major accomplishments this year include setting the OHSAA Division 1 record in the Pole Vault at 16-10 during the Ohio Capital Conference Championship on May 14th; tying the OHSAA Division 1 record in the Pole Vault at 17-0 on June 4th; winning the OHSAA Division 1 State Championship on June 4th; setting the all time Ohio record in the Pole Vault at 17-0.75 on June 18th; winning the New Balance Outdoor Nationals on June 18th; winning the USATF World Youth Trials on June 28th; and being selected as a member Team USA at the IAAF World Youth Championship on June 29th.
Blankenship will compete in the qualification round on Friday, July 8th at 9:30am (3:30am Ohio time). If he qualifies for the finals he will then compate again on the last day of the meet, Sunday, July 10th, of the IAAF World Youth Championship for a medal at 4:00pm (10:00am Ohio time).
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Jake Blankenship qualified for the finals of the pole vault at the IAAF World Youth Championship. He cleared 4.80m (15'9"), along with 9 others, in the field of 12 that will compete in the finals. Blankenship will vault again on Sunday at 4:00pm (10:00am Ohio time) to try and bring home a World Youth Championship medal. Good Luck Jake!
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Jake Blankenship finished 3rd in Sunday's finals, vaulting 5.05 (16-6.75). He missed his attempts at 5.15 (16-10.75). The event was won by Robert Renner of Slovkia with a personal best vault of 5.25 (17-02.75). 2nd place went to Melker Jacobsson of Sweden who cleared the 5.15m mark. Congratulations Jake!
