Tori Weeks of Arkansas Ascends to Collegiate Lead in Pole Vault, Takes Shot at 15 Feet

By Adam Kopet, DyeStat Editor

Arkansas sophomore Tori Weeks has been on a tear in the pole vault so far this season.

She cleared 14 feet, 6 inches (4.42m) for a new all-conditions personal best Jan. 13 at the Arkansas Invitational.

Weeks improved again Saturday at the Vanderbilt Invitational, clearing 14-6.25 (4.43m) before making several close attempts at 15 feet (4.58m).

Weeks had already won the competition with her clearance at 14-1.75 (4.31m), but decided to attempt the personal-best height to take the NCAA lead outright. Kally Long of Texas also cleared 14-6 (4.42m) on Jan. 14 at the Texas A&M Team Invitational.

"We’re going to start working with a little bit bigger poles, raising our grip a little bit and see if we can’t keep improving," Arkansas assistant coach Bryan Compton said about the season moving forward.

Tori's twin sister, Lexi Weeks, is also a pole vaulter for the Razorbacks. After competing at the 2016 Olympics, she has not yet opened her indoor season.