Wyatt eclipses mark by Richartz achieved in August at national meet, Oates and Sommers both achieve 14-foot clearances for third time at Big Red Barn facility, with Fowler and Leigh both producing memorable personal-best efforts

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

A repaired shoulder, a renewed focus and a partnership with one of the most respected pole vault coaches in the world have Audie Wyatt ready to return to the ranks of the 19-foot competitors and Saturday provided a glimpse of that potential for the former Texas A&M All-American.

But the addition of Wyatt, who was sidelined for four months following shoulder surgery, to the Arizona-based training group under coach Nick Hysong wasn’t the only good news for Risen Performance at the Vaulter Club Vaulter Magazine Grand Prix Spring event at the Big Red Barn facility.

INTERVIEWS

In addition to Wyatt setting the facility record by clearing 18 feet, 6.75 (5.66m) on his first attempt, Risen Performance teammate Kortney Oates outlasted senior Paige Sommers of Westlake High in California on fewer misses after both athletes cleared 14-3.25 (4.35m) and Rhode Island graduate Karlee Fowler, who also trains with Hysong in Arizona, achieved three personal bests on her way to a 13-11.25 (4.25m) clearance on the third opportunity to highlight another memorable event in Sun City, Calif.

Wyatt, who competed only once during the indoor season Feb. 26 at the Husky Classic in Seattle, survived a third-attempt clearance at 18-2.50 (5.55m), before surpassing the mark of 18-6.50 (5.65m) achieved by Nate Richartz on Aug. 1 at the Vaulter Club Vaulter Magazine national championship meet. He also had three unsuccessful tries at 18-10.75 (5.76m), but still achieved the No. 2 outdoor clearance in the world this year.

Chris Pillow, Luigi Colella and Tray Oates all cleared 17-0.75 (5.20m) to round out the top four in the men’s elite section.

Oates and Sommers became the only two female athletes to achieve three 14-foot clearances at the Big Red Barn facility. It also marked the first time that a pair of women’s vaulters cleared at least 14-3.25 in the same competition at a Vaulter Club Vaulter Magazine event.

After both competitors cleared 13-11.25 on their second attempts, Oates soared over 14-3.25 on her first try to put the pressure on the Duke-bound Sommers, who responded with a clearance on her second opportunity to achieve the second-highest mark of her career, following her national junior class and California state records with a 14-6 (4.42m) performance at the Thousand Oaks Invitational last year.

It was a significant contrast to their previous head-to-head matchup July 18 at the Big Red Barn, with Oates clearing 14-2.75 (4.34m) and Sommers only achieving a height of 13-3 (4.04m).

Sommers had cleared 14 feet (4.27m) and 14-1.75 (4.31m), both in June, with Oates winning the Aug. 1 national meet by achieving a 14-7.25 (4.45m) clearance, the second-highest women’s mark produced at the Big Red Barn, trailing only the national high school record 14-8.25 (4.48m) accomplished by Leah Pasqualetti of Orchard Park High in New York.

Oates and Sommers both missed three attempts at 14-7.25, after Fowler was unable to achieve the first 14-foot clearance of her career.

Fowler, a former Atlantic 10 Conference champion, had cleared 12-11.75 (3.96m) at Rhode Island. She had twice achieved 13-1.75 (4.01m) clearances during this indoor season.

But the former pentathlete managed to keep pace with Sommers and eventually Oates by clearing 13-3.50 (4.05m) on her second opportunity, followed by 13-7.25 (4.15m) and 13-11.25, both on her third attempts.

Oates and Sommers equaled the No. 5 outdoor clearance in the world this year, with Fowler achieving the No. 9 mark.

Allison Leigh, a junior at Del Norte High in San Diego, also achieved multiple personal bests, including a third-attempt clearance at 12-11.50 (3.95m) to place sixth overall, but second among high school competitors behind Sommers.