A STRONG GROUP of 19-foot vaulters enjoyed ideal conditions on the meet’s first day. Anthony Meacham (Kansas), with three clearances at that height; defending champion Aleksandr Solovev (Texas A&M), with indoor 19s in ’25 and ’26; and previously consistent James Rhoads (Washington), with an indoor 19-1, were top contenders. Appalachian State junior Matthew Gray, who has steadily improved from 17-9¾ (5.43) to 19-2 (5.84) this year, led the yearly list.
With 24 entrants, the event progressed very slowly: the first over 18-½ (5.50) on his initial attempt had to wait more than an hour to vault again. Solovev was the first to depart, managing only that height and finishing 13th. Rhoads got over 18-4½ (5.60), but he could go no higher, and was left in 9th.
At 18-8¼ (5.70), the field was cut to four, led by Meacham, with a clean slate of first-attempt successes. Gray had one very good try, but hit the bar on the way down and was eliminated, finishing 5th. Utah State’s Logan Hammer was over on his second go, equaling his year-old PR. Ismaila Sawaneh (Tennessee) succeeded on his third, as did Nebraska soph Dyson Wicker.
The bar went up to 18-10¼ (5.75). Sawaneh was never close and had to settle for 4th. Wicker shot over on his first try, followed moments later by the surprising and exultant Hammer. Meacham missed once, then elected to pass.
Wicker, vaulting first in the order at 19-¼ (5.80), soared over again for a new PR. Hammer and Meacham each missed once, then chose to pass their remaining attempts.
There were no barriers for Wicker on this evening. He cleared 19-2¼ (5.85) on his first vault, stared at the bar for a moment, then began to celebrate. Hammer and Meacham each missed once, leaving the latter in 3rd. Hammer had one final unsuccessful try at 19-4¼ (5.90), but was certainly content with his silver.
Wicker passed that last height, then retired with his victory, the second-highest NCAA-winning mark in history.
He was reflective afterwards: “I wouldn’t be here without the coaches, the facilities, the other athletes on my team, surrounding me and keeping me up. During warmups, I was a little nervous. I’m not a nervous person. I am very confident. A lot of people take that as cockiness, but I’m just very confident in my abilities. I was a little nervous going in, and I had one good jump that lined it up. As soon as that happened, I knew that today was going to click, and it clicked at the right time.”
MEN’S POLE VAULT RESULTS
(June 10)
1. **Dyson Wicker (Nb) 19-2¼ (5.85) PR (=8, x AmC);
2. Logan Hammer (UtSt) 18-10¼ (5.75) PR;
3. Anthony Meacham (Ks) 18-8¼ (5.70);
4. *Ismaila Sawaneh’ (Tn-Fra) 18-8¼ (5.70);
5. *Matthew Gray (App) 18-4½ (5.60);
6. *Maddox Hamm (VaT) 18-4½ (5.60) out PR;
7. Conner McClure (VaT) 18-4½ (5.60);
8. Tyler Carrel (In) 18-4½ (5.60);
9. James Rhoads (Wa) 18-4½; 10. tie, *Cody Johnston (Il), ***Caelan Harland (SD) & **Ricardo Montes De Oca’ (HPt-Ven) 18-½ (5.50); 13. Aleksandr Solovev’ (TxAM-Rus) 18-½; 14. tie, Blake Sifferlin (Tn) & Logan Kelley (Ms) 17-6½ (5.35); 16. ***Jackson Bragg (TxT) 17-6½; 17. **Jason Olivera (HPt) 17-6½; 18. Ty McPhail (Louis) 17-6½; 19. tie, **Ben Feyrer (SLO) & **Brian Schloeder (Navy) 17-6½; 21. *Kevin Swindler (Mt) 17-6½; 22. tie, *Colton Rhodes (Ok) & *Sam Crenshaw (WnKy) 17-6½ (=PR); 24. Sullivan Gleason (SEMo) 17-¾ (5.20).
| 17-¾ | 17-6½ | 18-½ | 18-4½ | 18-8¼ | 18-10¼ | 19-¼ | 19-2¼ | 19-4¼ | 19-6¼ | |
| Meacham | ppp | ppp | o | o | o | xpp | xpp | x | — | — |
| Hamm | ppp | o | o | xo | xxx | — | — | — | — | — |
| Wicker | ppp | ppp | o | o | xxo | o | o | o | ppp | — |
| Olivera | o | xo | xxx | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Johnston | ppp | xo | o | xxx | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| McPhail | xxo | xo | xxx | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Rhoads | ppp | xxo | o | xxo | xxx | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sawaneh | ppp | o | xxo | o | xxo | xxx | — | — | — | — |
| Solovev | ppp | xxo | xxo | xpp | xx | — | — | — | — | — |
| De Oca | ppp | xo | o | xxx | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Gleason | o | xxx | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Hammer | ppp | o | xo | xo | xo | o | xpp | xpp | x | — |
| Crenshaw | xxo | xxo | xxx | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| McClure | ppp | xo | xo | xo | xxx | — | — | — | — | — |
| Feyrer | o | xxo | xxx | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Gray | ppp | ppp | xo | o | xxx | — | — | — | — | — |
| Schloeder | o | xxo | xxx | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Kelley | o | o | xxx | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Harland | o | xo | o | xxx | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sifferlin | o | o | xxx | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Swindler | xo | xxo | xxx | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Bragg | xo | o | xxx | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Rhodes | xxo | xxo | xxx | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Carrel | xo | xo | xo | xo | xxx | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5.20 | 5.35 | 5.50 | 5.60 | 5.70 | 5.75 | 5.80 | 5.85 | 5.90 | 5.95 |
