Sommers shows off Duke gear in competition for the first time after signing Nov. 11 with the Blue Devils, Brown ready to return to the runway for UCLA after productive fall opener at Big Red Barn Thankful Meet

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Paige Sommers won’t officially have an opportunity to pole vault for Duke for more than a year, but the Westlake High senior already looked the part Saturday at the Vaulter Club Vaulter Magazine Big Red Barn Thankful Meet, showing off the gear of her college choice for the first time in competition after signing her national letter of intent Nov. 11 with the Blue Devils.

Kyle Brown was also wearing blue and white, albeit different shades representing UCLA, continuing to remain optimistic he won’t have to wait for another extended period of time in order to return to the runway for the Bruins.

Until then, Sommers and Brown continue to benefit from plenty of repetition and opportunities at the familiar facility in Sun City, Calif., winning the women’s and men’s elite sections despite both relying on shorter approaches by remaining clean with their respective series until the final height.

Sommers took her first attempts of the fall above 13 feet, but wound up winning the women’s competition with a clearance of 12-9.50 (3.90m). The California state and national junior class record holder at 14-6 (4.42m), Sommers successfully executed first-attempt clearances at her opening four heights, before missing three opportunities at 13-0.25 (3.97m).

Sommers continued to use only a six-stride approach, shorter than her usual seven strides, and used a 14-foot/150 pole for her first three vaults, before switching to a 14-7/145 pole for her attempts at 12-9.50 and 13-0.25.

Gabrielle Pack, a senior at Peninsula High in California, cleared 12-3.75 (3.75m) on her first attempt to place second. Maya Grudman, a senior at Sage Creek in Carlsbad, also successfully achieved 12-3.75 on her first try, but needed multiple attempts to get over both 11-3.75 (3.45m) and 11-9.75 (3.60m), resulting in her finishing third overall.

Allison Leigh, a junior at Del Norte, was fourth with a first-attempt clearance at 11-9.75.

Although there was some confusion with the actual heights on Brown’s final attempts, what was absolutely certain was his consistency using bigger poles and explosiveness on the runway.

Despite missing three opportunities at 17 feet (5.18m), Brown made all of his earlier heights on the first attempt, including the winning mark of 16-10 (5.13m).

Brown was under the impression he was attempting what would have been a family record at 17-6.50 (5.35m), but instead found out the standards were incorrect on earlier vaults and he only had the chance to eclipse the 17-foot barrier after clearing 16-10.

Clark Hobbs, a senior at Redwood High in Visalia representing Sky Jumpers, cleared 15-9.25 (4.81m) on his first attempt to finish second. Noah Hurley, a College Park graduate representing Peregrine Flyers, also achieved a 15-9.25 clearance, but on the third attempt to finish third overall.

Lexi Evans, a junior at Scripps Ranch High, won the girls intermediate section with a first-attempt clearance at 11-1.75 (3.40m).

Nathan Richards, a junior at Poway High, won the men’s intermediate section by clearing 11-11.75 (3.65m) on his first opportunity.