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Lexi Weeks reflects on HS Indoor Pole Vault record - DyeStatPublished by
Lexi Weeks reaches one record, eyes another
By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor
There was reason to celebrate on Saturday in Arkansas when Lexi Weeks cleared 14-3.25 in the pole vault. After all, that tops the Desiree Freier mark from New Balance Nationals Indoor last year in New York by one-half inch.
But the way that girls pole vaulting is going across the country right now, even Weeks knows that record isn’t safe.
Weeks raised the bar to 14-7.50 for her final attempts, a mark that would top Freier’s national outdoor record by a quarter inch. A clearance there would have settled the matter in a more profound way.
A year ago, Freier was had one of her outdoor competitions moved inside because of rainy weather and jumped 14-6 off synthetic turf. At the time it was believed that mark would be ratified as a new high school record. However, upon closer inspection of the video questions arose about the depth of the box and whether it had been properly installed and surveyed. Track and Field News did not recognize the mark as a record.
Freier, who is a freshman at Arkansas, will be Weeks’ college teammate next year. And she offered congratulations to Weeks through social media over the weekend.
Weeks is mostly likely done with indoor meets and will switch to outdoors with a meet on March 8.
Weeks almost made the 14-3.25 bar on her first attempt. She was well over it but brushed the bar with her legs coming down on the other side.
“That first attempt told me that I had it,” Weeks said. “I knew I could get it.”
On next try, Weeks brushed the bar again but this time it stayed up. Twin sister Tori leapt onto the mat to hug Lexi after the jump was complete.
Weeks didn’t clear the overall record height but on her last attempt she raised her grip from 13-3 to 13-6 (on a 13-9 pole). In pole vaulting, that’s progress and it’s a sign that she could keep going higher.
“If I can get 14-3 holding 13-3…” Weeks said.
A higher grip and a pole with less flex could take her to the outdoor record.
Tori Weeks, who has generally kept pace with her sister’s progress, has been hampered a bit lately by the flu. She cleared 12-9 on Saturday. More news |