Talius prevails in pole vault against group of college, professional athletes

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Eastlake WA junior Ellie Talius knew she had the potential to contend for a New Balance Nationals Indoor pole vault title, but the Northwest Pole Vault Club standout couldn't have asked for a much better conclusion to her indoor season Saturday at the Husky Classic at the Dempsey Indoor facility in Seattle.

Talius cleared a personal-best 13 feet, 7 inches (4.14m), ranking her No. 3 in the country among prep performers this season, on her first attempt and Cal junior Lauren Martinez made the height on her second try. Both athletes missed all three attempts at 14-0.75 (4.29m), but Talius secured the victory when former NCAA Division 2 champion Katie Nageotte missed all three tries at her opening height of 14-6.75 (4.44m).

"I was really focused on competing with myself and getting a PR, since it was my last indoor meet of the season," said Talius, who equaled the No. 19 high school indoor clearance in history.

"Going into the meet, I was very excited but also nervous, since it was with college girls. So, I was very happy with having all first-attempt clearances, and it definitely took some of the pressure off and helped me enjoy the meet even more."

Talius, who had a 13-6 (4.11m) clearance Jan. 13 at the UCS Spirit National Pole Vault Summit in Reno, came within a quarter-inch of the Washington indoor state record of 13-7.25 (4.15m) set in 2016 by Long High's Abby Weiler.

"Ellie jumped incredibly well," Nageotte said. "I told (Washington State coach Brad Walker) he needs to recruit her."

The state outdoor record is 13-8 (4.16m), also set in 2016 by Mountlake Terrace star Chinne Okoronkwo, now a sophomore at Wisconsin.

Talius knows that with the upcoming spring outdoor season, along with her senior year, she'll have many more opportunities to make history again in Washington.

"I was proud of my last attempt at 14-1, since it was close and I know I'll be able to make it in the future," Talius said. "I really wish I could go to New Balance, but my outdoor season starts at the end of March. My first big meet will be Arcadia (on April 7)."

Only 10 prep female athletes have cleared 14 feet outdoors, including California state record holder and Virginia Tech freshman Rachel Baxter, an Anaheim Canyon graduate who set the Arcadia meet record of 14-2 (4.32m) in 2016.