10. Paulo Benavides (TX) - Boys Pole Vault Champion
After finishing second at indoor nationals and losing his national record to Deakin Volz of Indiana, Texas state champion vaulter Paulo Benavides was looking forward to the rematch at outdoor nationals. From El Paso, Benavides was coming off a disappointing fourth place showing at the Great Southwest Classic two weeks ago against many of the top competitors which he would be seeing in Greensboro.
Only Benavides and Volz were the last two left in the competition after both cleared 17'5", but neither was able to clear the next height giving Benavides the national title on the tiebreaker of earlier misses by the indoor champ and record holder Volz. In the year of the vault, Benavides was your boys high school national champ outdoors after a spring which saw 10 boys clear 17 feet or higher in the vault.
MileSplit counts down the top 15 boys individual performers from the 2015 New Balance Nationals:
#15. Jack Jibb (NY) - Steeplechase Champ
#14. Adam Kelly (RI) - Hammer Throw Champ
#13. Matthew Novak (VA) - Mile Champ
#12. Chris McBride (GA) - Long Jump Champ
#11. Carter Blunt (TX) - 2 Mile Champ & Mile Runner-up
#10. Paulo Benavides (TX) - Pole Vault Champ
#9. John Lewis (PA) - 800m Champ
#8. Will Lauer (SD) - 5K Champ
#7. Jaron Brooks (KY) - High Jump Champ
#6. Josephus Lyles (VA) - 400m Champ
#5. Willie Morrison (KS) - Shot Put Champ
#4. Tyrese Cooper (FL) - 8th Grader Runs 46.44 400m
#3. Rai Benjamin (NY) - 400m Hurdles Champ
#2. Chad Zallow (OH) - 110m Hurdles Champ
#1. Noah Lyles (VA) - 100m & 200m Champ