UCLA senior wins second event on Grand Prix schedule with 17-0.75 (5.20m) clearance; Duke-bound Sommers clears 13-10 (4.22m) and Stanford commit Brown produces 16-8.75 (5.10m) effort at Big Red Barn

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The second Vaulter Club Vaulter Magazine Grand Prix event showcased a pair of national outdoor leading marks by prep athletes, along with a trio of third-attempt heartbreaks Saturday at the Big Red Barn facility in Sun City, Calif.

But the performances produced by UCLA senior Kyle Brown, along with California high school seniors Paige Sommers of Westlake High and Garrett Brown of La Costa Canyon, provided an indication that some big clearances could be coming in the near future.

INTERVIEWS

Kyle Brown won the men’s elite section for the second time in as many competitions in the series, following his Jan. 24 victory by clearing 17 feet, 0.75 inches (5.20m) to edge younger brother Garrett Brown and former California state champion and Italian athlete Luigi Colella, who both cleared 16-8.75 (5.10m).

The UCLA standout had an agonizing near miss on his final attempt at 17-4.50 (5.30m), which would have been his highest clearance in a competition setting. Brown did clear a practice bar at 17-7 (5.36m), but his highest mark in an official event remains 17-2.75 (5.25m).

Colella, who attended both Thousand Oaks and Westlake during his prep career, took second ahead of Garrett Brown based on making 16-8.75 on his first attempt.

The La Costa Canyon star, who has signed with Stanford, needed two attempts to make 16-8.75, then barely missed his final chance at a potential personal-best 17-0.75, which would have improved on his own San Diego Section record and made him the 28th high school vaulter in California history to surpass the 17-foot barrier.

Sommers, the California state and national junior class record holder at 14-6 (4.42m), navigated her way over 13-10 (4.22m) on her first opportunity to cap a run of four consecutive first-attempt clearances to win the women’s elite section.

The Duke signee, who has already achieved a pair of 14-foot clearances at the Big Red Barn facility, just missed adding a third mark to that list, brushing the bar off on her third opportunity at 14-1.25 (4.30m).

Sommers and Garrett Brown both produced the top outdoor vaults by high school competitors this year and each elevated to the No. 2 overall performers.

Hana Moll of Capital High in Washington, representing Northwest Pole Vault Club, has twice achieved indoor clearances of 14 feet (4.27m). Clayton Simms of Live Oak in Louisiana has cleared 17-4.75 (5.30m) indoors this season.

Gabrielle Pack, representing Peninsula High and North County Pole Vault Club, took second Saturday in the women’s elite section with a 12-9.50 (3.90m) clearance.

Lexi Evans of Scripps Ranch and Maya Grudman of Sage Creek, also representing North County Pole Vault Club, tied for third at 12-3.50 (3.75m). Evans, who achieved a personal-best clearance, prevailed based on one fewer attempt against Grudman.