The 2017 class of pole vaulters might be one of the best vaulting classes in a long time. I admit, I haven't followed vaulting that much in my lifetime, but this season I really took a liking to it. In a way, the pole vault is the Bruno Mars of track and field. In my opinion, like Bruno Mars, pole vaulters are some of the most athletic, most meticulous, most entertaining, and the most passionate about their craft.
On the boys side, we will soon bid farewell to some of the nations top pole vaulters. This weekend, some of the top boys senior vaulters competed at the TTFCA Meet of Champions. That list included the 2017 UIL 6A runner-up, Keller Central's Logan Freeman who went 15-0 this weekend and Eric Etie of Keller who was eighth in 6A at state , he went 15-6 this weekend. Although only a junior, Branson Ellis of Tyler Lee is one of the best in that state. One week after winning the 6A title, Ellis joined the group of talented seniors and entertained the crowd by going 16-0.
Frisco Heritage senior JAMES MANDERS took his turns in wowing the crown, at the TTFCA Meet of Champions. Manders was able to put together a good day and set a new PR with his 16-6 vault on the day. Manders had a great year and putting together a great performance this weekend had to be the icing on the cake. This year, Manders had only three meets where he didn't finish first. One, was just this past weekend, Texas Relays (7th), and last weekend where he took the silver medal in the 5A competition.
Grapevine senior PEYTON WEISSMANN is the #3 vaulter in the nation. Weissmann has a PR of 17-4 and until this weekend was undefeated in the outdoor season. Last weekend, at the 5A state meet, Weissmann had a dramatic competition. He was in danger of no heighting and kept fans on the edge of their seats. However, he was able to string together a couple of good vaults to take home his second 5A title. This weekend, even though he took second place, Weissmann was able to get his groove back. He successfully cleared 16-6. Pictured above, on his last attempt at 17-0, Weissmann clearly had the hip height over the bar, but he brushed the bar with his chest on the way down.
Speaking of both finding a groove and 17', China Springs senior RILEY RICHARDS was able to do both this weekend. Richards who has been fighting injuries all season strung together a series of meets dating back to district enabling him to get to the state meet. At state, he was able to win his second straight 4A pole vault title. Richards, no stranger to jumping 17s has a PR of 17-7, however he hasn't touched the air 17' above the ground in a good little while....until this weekend. At the TTFCA Meet of Champions, as pictured on his 17-0 clearing jump, he found his groove and was 17' closer to Heaven than all of us. Richards got his momentum back, but more importantly, he tied the TTFCA Meet of Champions record held by fellow China Springs pole vault alumni and Texas high school pole vault star BRANDON BRAY.