The High Expectations Of Sondre Guttormsen
The numbers don't lie.
This year the boys pole vault is having a record-setting year. Lafayette's (LA) Mondo Duplantis may have the world junior record of 19 feet 5.5 inches, but he's not the only one having a big year. Four guys have cleared bars of 18-2.5 or better this outdoor season. Not to mention Bloomington High School's (IL) Zachery Bradford vaulting 18-0.5 this past indoor season.
Last year nobody but Duplantis was vaulting over 18 feet. The year before that -- in 2017 -- it was Duplantis and Park Hill High School's (MO) Christopher Nilsen who had marks over 18 feet. Then Devin King was over 18 with a vault of 18-0.5 in 2014.
Many of these 18-foot marks were achieved very late in the season. This is by far the best year we've seen on paper for the pole vault. The number of vaulters over 18 feet isn't the only thing that is up. Across the board, we've seen more guys over 16 feet than in the past five years. The number of guys over 16 feet this year has almost doubled compared to in 2013.
Take a look at the number below to understand the full effect this year's pole vaulters have had.
Links:
Top 100 Pole Vaulters (Start of Season Until May 15): 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013
- - -
Number of Vaulters Reaching New Heights
| Year | Guys Over 18' | 17' or better | 16-5' or better | 16' or better |
|---|
| 2018 | 4 | 10 | 22 | 60 |
| 2017 | 1 | 9 | 16 | 47 |
| 2016 | 1 | 8 | 17 | 46 |
| 2015 | 0 | 9 | 20 | 44 |
| 2014 | 0 | 9 | 16 | 47 |
| 2013 | 0 | 6 | 16 | 39 |
