Morrison and Early vault to new \"state records\"!

RENO, NV -- Great Bridge's Michael Morrison and Western Albemarle's Ashley Early ventured out west to Reno, Nevada to participate in what has become one of the premier pole vault events in the nation among high school, collegiate, and professional athletes at the Pole Vault Summit. At the Pole Vault Summit, Morrison and Early cleared heights at which have never been reached known to the days of MileStat.com coverage within the state nor to any state meet records. Morrison hit a height of 16 feet and 2 inches, while Early cleared a height of 12 feet and 2 inches. Early's mark can be verified as being a "state records" for either indoor or outdoor competition, while Morrison's is a new state record for indoors. There is no official list maintained by the VHSL or any governing body in the state of state record performances recorded outside of state meet competition, but is something that MileStat.com is hoping in the near future to compile and take charge with assistance from track historians within the state.

It can definitely be confirmed that no other female high school athlete in the state's history has ever cleared a height greater than 12 feet. The girls' pole vault has only been in existence in the state of Virginia for roughly 6 years as the 1998-1999 school year was the first year that the VHSL allowed it in competition. The previous best in all-time history was held by two vaulters at 12 feet. Kira Barcus of Atlee cleared 12 feet in her winning height at the 2002 Group AAA State Outdoor Track Meet, while Rhian Jenks also hit the mark at the 2003 Central Region Indoor Track Meet. Early, the defending Group AA state champion, had tied the state record as she cleared 12 feet earlier in the season at a Fork Union meet in December. With her clearance of 12-2 in Reno, Early has established herself as the new state record holder.

It is pretty safe to assume that Michael Morrison has the new state record in the pole vault as well as not only did he set a new personal best in his 16-2 clearance, he broke the old Great Bridge school indoor record (16-1) held by the greatest pole vaulter to ever come out of the state of Virginia in 2000 Olympic silver medalist Lawrence Johnson, who has a lifetime best of 19-7.50 in the event. Johnson has the outdoor state record with a clearance of 17-6. Morrison is currently tied for the US #1 mark as two other high school vaulters hit a height of 16-2 at the event in Derek Scott of El Camino (CA) and Ryan Shuler of Granite Bay (CA).