Pair of Aggie vaulters set to represent Team USA in Pan Am Juniors
Jul 30, 2015 | Track and Field
EDMONTON – A pair of Aggie freshman continue their track and field season this weekend as members of the United States team competing in the Pan American Junior Championships at Foote Field in Canada.
Audie Wyatt (Huntsville, Texas) and Sara Kathryn Stevens (New Braunfels, Texas) each won USATF Junior titles in the pole vault a month ago in Eugene, Oregon, to make the U.S. squad.
Both will compete on Friday with Stevens starting at 11:15 a.m. (PT) while Wyatt's competition begins at 5:20 p.m. (PT). Coverage of the meet is available online via edmonton2015.ca/live-stream.
This is the fourth time Canada has served as host of the Pan Am Juniors. Previous meets were hosted by Sudbury (1980), Winnipeg (1993), and Windsor (2005).
The women's pole vault field includes eight entrants while the men's field includes 10 vaulters. The meet record for the women is 14-5 ¼ (4.40) set in 2013 by Alysha Newman of Canada as well as Robeilys Peinado of Venezuela. Peinado returns for the 2015 meet and has a season best of 15-1 (4.60).
The men's meet record is 18-0 ½ (5.50) set by Lawrence Johnson of the United States during the 1993 Pan Am Juniors hosted by Winnipeg.
In claiming U.S. Junior titles this season both Stevens and Wyatt closed out the competition with attempts at Texas A&M school records.
Stevens made one try at 14-0 (4.27) to eclipse the Aggie record of 13-10 ½ (4.23) set by Laura Asimakis in 2011. In winning the U.S. Junior title with a clearance of 13-9 ¼ (4.20) Stevens moved to No. 2 on the Texas A&M all-time list with the No. 2 performance.
Wyatt had three attempts at 18-4 ¾ (5.61) in an effort to better the A&M standard of 18-4 (5.60) set in 1990 by Greg West. In winning the U.S. Junior, Wyatt equaled his career best of 18-0 ½ (5.50) which he also cleared in placing second at the SEC Championships.
Since 1980 American vaulters have won the men's Pan Am Junior title eight times, with the last U.S. gold medalist occurring in 2009. The women's pole was added in 1997 and Americans have claimed seven of the nine titles awarded.
Wyatt enters the meet as the second ranked vaulter among World Juniors, trailing only Adam Hauge of Great Britain, who is the current world leader at 18-4 ½ (5.60). Stevens is equal to 15th best on the women's world junior list for this season.
Audie Wyatt (Huntsville, Texas) and Sara Kathryn Stevens (New Braunfels, Texas) each won USATF Junior titles in the pole vault a month ago in Eugene, Oregon, to make the U.S. squad.
Both will compete on Friday with Stevens starting at 11:15 a.m. (PT) while Wyatt's competition begins at 5:20 p.m. (PT). Coverage of the meet is available online via edmonton2015.ca/live-stream.
This is the fourth time Canada has served as host of the Pan Am Juniors. Previous meets were hosted by Sudbury (1980), Winnipeg (1993), and Windsor (2005).
The women's pole vault field includes eight entrants while the men's field includes 10 vaulters. The meet record for the women is 14-5 ¼ (4.40) set in 2013 by Alysha Newman of Canada as well as Robeilys Peinado of Venezuela. Peinado returns for the 2015 meet and has a season best of 15-1 (4.60).
The men's meet record is 18-0 ½ (5.50) set by Lawrence Johnson of the United States during the 1993 Pan Am Juniors hosted by Winnipeg.
In claiming U.S. Junior titles this season both Stevens and Wyatt closed out the competition with attempts at Texas A&M school records.
Stevens made one try at 14-0 (4.27) to eclipse the Aggie record of 13-10 ½ (4.23) set by Laura Asimakis in 2011. In winning the U.S. Junior title with a clearance of 13-9 ¼ (4.20) Stevens moved to No. 2 on the Texas A&M all-time list with the No. 2 performance.
Wyatt had three attempts at 18-4 ¾ (5.61) in an effort to better the A&M standard of 18-4 (5.60) set in 1990 by Greg West. In winning the U.S. Junior, Wyatt equaled his career best of 18-0 ½ (5.50) which he also cleared in placing second at the SEC Championships.
Since 1980 American vaulters have won the men's Pan Am Junior title eight times, with the last U.S. gold medalist occurring in 2009. The women's pole was added in 1997 and Americans have claimed seven of the nine titles awarded.
Wyatt enters the meet as the second ranked vaulter among World Juniors, trailing only Adam Hauge of Great Britain, who is the current world leader at 18-4 ½ (5.60). Stevens is equal to 15th best on the women's world junior list for this season.
Players Mentioned
Pole Vault
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Pole Vault
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