Cunliffe, the USATF Hershey National Junior Olympic 17-18 champion and one of 16 prep vaulters in history with a 14-foot clearance, decides to remain in state by choosing Cougars

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

West Seattle WA senior Chloe Cunliffe, the reigning USATF Hershey National Junior Olympic women’s 17-18 national pole vault champion, has announced her decision to sign with Washington State.

Cunliffe improved on her own Washington high school state record July 7 with a 14-foot clearance (4.27m) at the USATF Region 13 Championships at Summit High in Oregon.

Cunliffe became one of 16 prep athletes in history to clear 14 feet, including the 13th to achieve the feat outdoors, along with the fifth junior to reach the height.

She cleared 13-11 (4.24m) to set the meet record July 27 and capture the USATF national title representing Seattle Speed Track Club at North Carolina A&T, making Cunliffe the only prep athlete in the country to clear at least 13-11 twice during the year.

Cunliffe is the latest pole vault standout in the Class of 2019 to sign her national letter of intent, with the opportunity to train with Washington State coach Brad Walker, who also works with reigning USATF Indoor champion Katie Nageotte.

Mackenzie Hayward of Lewisville Marcus TX, who cleared 14 feet at the 91st Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays in March, has signed with Baylor. Hayward and Riley Floerke of Gregory-Portland TX, who boasts a personal-best 13-9 clearance (4.19m), both signed with the Bears.

Julia Fixsen of Mounds View MN, who cleared 13-11.25 (4.24m) to place second in June at the USATF Junior Outdoor Championships in Indiana, signed with Georgia.

Fixsen tied for seventh by clearing 13-9.25 (4.20m) at the IAAF World U-20 Championships in July in Tampere, Finland.

Stanford signed Ellie Talius of Eastlake WA – who boasts a 13-6 (4.11m) indoor clearance – along with California state champion Laurel Wong of Santa Catalina, who cleared a personal-best 13-3 (4.03m) outdoors.

Lake Hamilton senior Edie Murray, the Arkansas 6A record holder at 13-3.25 (4.04m), decided to remain close to home by signing with Arkansas.

Taylor senior Anna Cathryn Griffith, the Texas 4A state champion, boasts a 13-3 outdoor clearance. She has signed with Texas Tech.

West Forsyth senior Lindsay Absher, the North Carolina 4A state champion, has also cleared 13-3 outdoors and signed with Purdue.

Erica Ellis of Gates Chili NY, who set the national junior indoor record in January by clearing 14-1.25 (4.30m) at the Akron Pole Vault Convention, signed with Penn State. Ellis chose not to participate in high school competition as a junior, instead training with Olympian Jenn Suhr and husband Rick Suhr.