For only second time in event history, elite high school competitions produce both 14-foot girls clearance and 17-foot boys effort; Grace becomes only third junior in U.S. prep indoor history to clear 14-2 (4.32m), with Migas and Abati reaching new heights, as well as McQuinn in second section

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Photos by Brynn Kleinke and Robert Kleinke

RENO, Nev. – Hannah Grace was already the most accomplished female pole vaulter in North Carolina prep history after producing indoor and outdoor state records last year as a sophomore at Coastal Christian High.

Grace reached even more rarefied air Saturday at the 31st edition of the UCS Spirit National Pole Vault Summit by becoming only the third junior in U.S. prep indoor history to clear at least 14 feet, 2 inches (4.32m), joining former Capital High of Washington twins Amanda Moll and Hana Moll in achieving the feat at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center.

INTERVIEWS

With Grace’s performance, it marked only the second time in event history that high school competitors cleared 14 feet in the girls elite section and 17 feet in the boys elite field, with Paul Migas of Lake Villa High in Illinois and RISE Pole Vault, as well as Sam Abati from San Antonio Reagan and Lone Star Pole Vault in Texas both reaching new heights.

Grace won the girls high school elite section by clearing 14-2 on her third opportunity, after combining explosive speed, exceptional technique and impressive efficiency to clear 12-0.50 (3.67m), 12-8.25 (3.87m), 13-2.25 (4.02m), 13-8.25 (4.17m) and 14 feet (4.27m) all on her first attempts.

Grace, who finished fifth in the second girls high school section last season in Reno by clearing 12-4 (3.76m), took three attempts Saturday at 14-4 (4.37m), a height only Amanda Moll and Hana Moll have reached at an indoor competition during their junior year.

Following the graduation of the Moll sisters, the top two prep girls vaulters in the country this season are both juniors, with Veronica Vacca of Mount Saint Joseph Academy achieving a 14-foot clearance Dec. 30 in Pennsylvania.

Vacca and Grace, who is coached by her mother Beth and mentored by American professional athlete Austin Miller representing Vault House in North Carolina, are two of the eight high school juniors all-time to produce a 14-foot indoor mark.

Kourtney Rathke of Peak to Peak Charter School in Colorado, a Michigan commit representing Above the Bar, cleared 13-2.25 on her first attempt to place second after tying for fifth in the top section last year.

Tierra Cullivan, a junior from Bridgeland High in Texas competing for Mac Vault Academy, also cleared 13-2.25 on her second attempt to take third overall.

Rathke needed three attempts at 12-0.50 just to start her competition, then cleared 12-8.25 on her second opportunity, before producing her best vault of the day at 13-2.25.

Cullivan produced first-attempt clearances at 11-4.50 (3.47m), 12-0.50 and 12-8.25, before enduring her first miss at 13-2.25.

Mya Strahm from Elmwood High in Illinois, Landry Allen of Hanford High in Washington and Columbia Vault Academy, along with Jacelyn Neighbors from Royse City High and Texas Express all cleared 12-8.25.

After both athletes successfully made 16-6.50 (5.04m) on their second attempts, Migas finally cleared 17-0.25 (5.19m) on his first opportunity to create separation against Abati, who achieved the mark on his third try.

Abati and Migas were both unsuccessful on three attempts at 17-4.25 (5.29m).

Migas, a Tennessee commit, improved from finishing fourth in the elite section last season at 15-2.25 (4.63m). Abati was two years removed from winning the seventh section of high school boys competition in Reno with a 14-6 (4.42m) clearance.

Gator Young from the PoleCats in Texas and Argyle High, cleared 16-6.50 on his second opportunity to finish third.

Dyson Wicker of Texas Express and Rockwall Heath, a Nebraska commit, achieved a 16-6.50 clearance on his second attempt as well, finishing fourth overall.

Peyton McQuinn, an Indiana-bound senior from Hamilton Heights and Pole Vault Elite, cleared a personal-best 16-2 (4.93m) on his first attempt to win the second boys high school section.

Michael Payan from Rocklin Whitney High in California cleared 15-6.25 (4.73m) on his first opportunity to edge Jordan Bryner of Kaizen Pole Vault Club and Madison Central High in Kentucky, who made the height on his second attempt, in the third boys high school section.

Taegan Olson from Roosevelt High in Colorado and Above the Bar, cleared 12-4 (3.76m) on her second attempt to prevail in the second girls high school section ahead of Victoria Spitzley from Legacy High in Colorado, who achieved the clearance on her third try.

Tierany Neighbors of Royse City and Texas Express won the third girls high school section with a 12-foot clearance (3.66m).

A pair of Japanese competitors were victorious in the top men’s and women’s collegiate sections.

Atsushi Haraguchi of Higashi Osaka cleared 17-0.25 (5.20m) on his first attempt, before missing three opportunities at 17-4.25 (5.30m).

Honoka Aihera from University of Tsukuba won the women’s competition with a first-attempt clearance at 11-9.75 (3.60m), edging Sophia Perez from Mt. San Antonio College in California, who made the height on her second try. Both athletes missed three opportunities at 12-1.50 (3.70m).

Perez held the early advantage after clearing 11-3.75 (3.60m) on her second attempt, with Aihera needing three tries to achieve the height and extend the competition.