Men
World Record: 6.22m/20’-4.75” Armand Duplantis, Sweden, 2/25/2003
American Record: 6:06m/19’-10.5” Sam Kendricks, 7/27/2019
Featured Athlete
USA
Age: 30
PB: 6.06m/19-10.50 feet (2019, AR)
Career Highlights:
- 2-time World Champion (2017, 2019)
- 2016 Olympic Bronze Medalist
- American Record-holder, 6.06m/19-10.50 feet
- 2-time World Indoor Championships Silver Medalist (2016, 2018)
- 10-time National Champion
While vaulting for the University of Mississippi, Sam Kendricks won the 2013 and 2014 NCAA Championships. He won his first U.S. title in 2014 outdoors, and has won 10 total, indoors and outdoors, since then. After earning a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics and a pair of world titles, Kendricks went to the 2020 Olympics as a medal favorite but was forced to withdraw before competition began because of a positive COVID test. His 2022 season was cut short by a torn meniscus, with surgery on May 2 preventing him from defending his title at the World Championships. Since resuming competition in late January – after becoming a new father in October – he won his 10th U.S. title with what he called a “Hail Mary” on his last attempt: he had missed twice at 19-2.75 feet before passing on his final opportunity at that height, choosing instead to take one shot at 19-4.75. He made it, celebrating wildly.
Of Note: Kendricks is a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve. At the 2016 Olympics, he stopped mid-run during a pole vault attempt to stand at attention while “The Star-Spangled Banner” was played.
Other Notable Athletes
JACOB WOOTEN
USA
Age: 26
PB: 5.90m/19 feet, 4.25 inches indoors (2020)
Career Highlights:
- Runner-up, USATF Indoor Championships, 2023
- 3rd (tie) USATF Outdoor Championships, 2022
- 3rd, 2019 NCAA Indoor Championships
USA
Age: 26
PB: 5.90m/19 feet, 4.25 inches indoors (2020)
Career Highlights:
- 2020 USATF Indoor Champion
- 2017 NCAA Champion
Women
World Record: 5.06m/16’-7.25” Yelena Isinbayeva, Russia, 8/28/2009
American Record: 5.00m/16’-4.75” Sandi Morris, 9/09/16
Notable Athletes
Canada
Age: 29
PB: 4.70m /15 feet, 5 inches indoors (2021)
Career Highlights:
- 2-time Olympian (2016, 2020)
- 9th, 2022 World Championships
USA
Age: 25
PB: 4.78m /15 feet, 8.25 inches indoors (2021)
Career Highlights:
- 2-time NCAA Champion (2017, 2018)
- 4th, U.S. Olympic Trials, 2020