Incoming Freshman Breaks National Pole Vault Record
6/29/2020 5:29:00 PM | Women's Track & Field
KENT, Ohio — Kent State track and field signee Leah Pasqualetti, the No. 1 pole vault recruit in the class of 2020, set the national high school and American U-20 outdoor pole vault all-time marks during competition Friday night at the Vaulter Club Vaulter Magazine Stars and Stripes Big Red Barn Meet in Sun City, California.
Despite competing at fewer outdoor meets this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and some difficulty transporting her poles across the country from her hometown of Orchard Park, New York, Pasqualetti was able to clear a record height of 14'-8.25" without any misses. After clearing the a bar on her first attempt at her first two heights of 13'-8" and 14'-1.75", both remaining competitors made the decision to move the bar one-quarter of an inch above the previous record set by Chloe Cunliffe in 2019.
It took just one attempt at that height for Pasqualetti to etch her name in the record book. Instead of aiming for Cunliffe's overall national record mark of 14'-9", she opted to become just the third high school girl ever to attempt clearing 15', and the first to do so without previously missing an attempt in the competition.
Although Pasqualetti was unsuccessful in her three attempts, she left the competition with a No. 2 U.S. ranking and No. 9 world ranking for the 2020 outdoor season. She is tied for 14th on the all-time outdoor World U-20 performance list.
"The competition was incredible," Pasqualetti stated in an interview with the Buffalo News. "(Setting the record in a meet against strong competition) was special. It's still sinking in."
Pasqualetti will look to continue the success Golden Flashes women's pole vaulters have had in recent years. Kent State has won three of the past seven Mid-American Conference women's pole vault championships with two additional runner-up finishes. Four graduates since 2018 own marks on the program's top-10 all-time performance lists.
"I am super excited to improve next year at Kent," Pasqualetti added. "I'm really looking forward to meeting the team and having people to look up to and push me."
Be sure to follow the Golden Flashes on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the team.
