How High Can they Go!

Back in 1997, I covered a high school track meet in Phoenix and witnessed first hand the beginning of girls' prep pole vaulting in Arizona.

I was sceptical.

That year, most of the girls were having trouble out-doing the boys in the high jump, who were consistently jumping over six feet...some near the 7-foot mark.

I figured there would come a day when I would be shaking my head at the progress of women's pole vaulting. It has come to pass. In 2003, April Kubishta of Lake Havasu set a state record with a vault of 13 feet, 1 1/4 inch and, in doing so became the first female to clear 13 feet in Arizona. She went on to become a star vaulter at Arizona State University and in 2008 set a personal best of 14-1 indoor and 13-11.75 outdoor. In contrast, Alec Hsu vaulted 16 feet, 1 inch in May of this year as he completed his stellar senior season at Phoenix Desert View High School.

Tolleson's Nick Hysong still owns the boy's state prep record at 17 feet, 4.75 inches. And then there's world record holder Sergey Bubka (Ukraine) who owns a vault into outer space with a remarkable vault of 20 feet, 1 3/4 or 6.14 meters. (I hate that meter thing).USA's Tim Mack vaulted 5.95 meters at the Athens Olympics. But getting back to the girls, Russian Yelena Isinbayeva vaulted 16 feet, 6 inches (5.03 meters) in Rome at a meet in 2008.

Remarkable! Hats off to all vaulters, especially the Arizona female vaulters who got it all started back in 1997.