Texas Pole Vaulters Come Up Big At Expo Explosion

Molly Haywood jumps at the 2023 Expo Explosion

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Every year, the Expo Explosion invites and hosts some of the best pole vaulters from across the country. All age groups from youth through masters and all in between compete against one another .

Despite the travel nightmares experienced by many nationwide last week, some of the expected performers still made their way to Belton, Texas to compete and they put on quite the show.

In the high school divisions, it was another year where the many of the best vaulters put in some impressive jumps. Texas jumpers continued their strong start to the 2023 track and field season.

Sean Gribble

The boys elite flight was won by Kentucky vaulter Wyatt Stewart; the University of South Dakota cleared 16-7.50 for the win. Aledo senior Sean Gribble is having an impressive senior season and finished third in the Elite division.

Gribble cleared 16-3, which is a personal best. Gribble finished his junior season with a 15-6 PR last year. He opened up the season with a 15-7 jump at the Texas Express Holiday Classic on December 17, 2022. With that personal best, he improved nine inches in the matter of weeks. Leo Bowen was fourth in the Elite boys event with a clearance of 15-10.25.

After an amazing junior season, Molly Haywood is the No. 2 Texas pole vaulter of all-time. She just jumped 14-1 at the Expo, which is good enough to nestle her in with the fourth best height ever by a Texas girl high school vaulter.

That is just the start of how good the Texas girls vaulted. Nine girls jumped 13 feet or higher including several Texans.

Canyon Lake senior Alencia Lentz cleared 13-11.75, 4.26, Rachel Homoly went  13-6, Katelyn Andrews cleared 13-3, Kashlee Dickinson (Canyon) went 13-0, and Cannon Booker (Bridgeland) just missed 13-0, but cleared 12-10.