Photos from LSU meet by Angelle Albright
While all eyes nationally were fixated on what was happening in New York at the Armory or in Boston at the Reggie Lewis Center, the best high school performance from this past weekend might have been brewing down in Cajun Country at Louisiana State University's last chance qualifier meet for high school athletes. It was more of a first chance meet since the indoor track facility at LSU, which is the home not only to the Louisiana state indoor championships but several annual invitational meets building up to the state meet had not been cancelled earlier this season due to delays in renovations to the Carl Maddox Fieldhouse. With the facility upgrades finally completed, the nation's top returning pole vaulter in Sumner High School senior Devin King was itching to get on re-done runway.
King, a 2013 New Balance Outdoor Nationals pole vault runner-up and World Youth Championships team member and competitor for the United States last summer in Ukraine, had earlier owned the US #1 ranking in the pole vault previously with a 16'8" win against a deep field of the nation's best vaulters at the Reno Pole Vault Summit. Ranked #2 going into this past weekend's LSU meet, King was flawless and on a roll in his earlier heights clearing on the first attempts building into his first try at a new PR height of 17'4".
Video of Devin King's 17'4" clearance at LSU
Coached by 2008 US Olympian Erica Bartolina, King was able to clear the 17'4" height to regain his top national ranking and more notably become the US #10 all-time high school performer indoors in the event. Having enjoyed consistently progression since being under the guidance of Bartolina, it was a no brainer for King to not disrupt that linear development in selecting and signing with Southeastern Louisiana University last week, which Bartolina's husband Mike is an assistant track coach with the program. King is seeking his first national title this winter when he competes at the New Balance Indoor Nationals in March and down the road hopes that this past summer at the World Youth Championships was just the first of many times that he will have earned the right to wear a United States singlet in international competition. MileSplit US interviewed King on Sunday within 24 hours of his personal best clearance of 17'4" at LSU.
US Top 10 High School All-Time Indoor Performers in Boys Pole Vault (according to Track & Field News)
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POLE VAULT |
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17-9¼ |
Andrew Irwin (Mt. Ida, Arkansas) |
2011 |
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17-7 |
Reese Watson (Spring, Texas) |
2012 |
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17-6½(A) |
Pat Manson (Central, Aurora, Colorado) |
1986 |
|
|
|
Shawn Barber (Park, Kingwood, Texas) |
2012 |
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|
|
Jacob Blankenship (Lincoln, Gahanna, Ohio) |
2012 |
|
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17-6 |
Brandon Richards (San Marcos, Santa Barbara, California) |
1985 |
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17-5 |
Maston Wallace (Clear Brook, Friendswood, Texas) |
2007 |
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17-4½ |
Joe Dial (Marlow, Oklahoma) |
1981 |
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17-4¼ |
Scott Roth (Granite Bay, California) |
2006 |
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17-4 |
Devin King (Sumner, Louisiana) |
2014 |
MileSplit US Interview with US #1 ranked pole vaulter Devin King of Sumner High School (LA)
MileSplit US: About 24 hours removed from your 17'4" clearance that broke the facility record, set a new PR, and moved yourself up to US #10 all-time indoors in the event. What are you feelings and thoughts after giving some time to let that performance sink in?
King: Feelings? Felt great. I don't know else how to explain it. I guess its just something one must experience. My thoughts? I'm satisfied for the first meet, but still want to make a higher jump before or at the championship meets. I mean I feel I jumped great and did what I expected to do so I'm happy. Not knocking any bars off until 17'8" was perfect couldn't have asked god for more!
MileSplit US: Did you have any early signs in the competition or day that you could get a sense that it would be a good day, a PR day in the event?
King: Actually yes. My back had been killing me for the recent meets before so yesterday it wasn't hurting at all. Physically I was prepared so that made me mentally confident in jumping it was just a matter of warm ups. Amd in warm ups, I was definitely ready so there was nothing left to do but PR. And practice of course. I'd been practicing at high bars the whole week before, so that made everything flow better too.
MileSplit US: The LSU high school meets kept getting pushed back or cancelled due to the renovations, so were you especially anxious to compete at this meet?
King: Oh yeah. I was just dying to get in there and jump. That was one thing my coach and I were talking about at practice before they canceled it the first time.
MileSplit US: Though you had gotten a chance to compete in a few indoor meets before LSU most notably coming out as the winner in the high school division at Reno Pole Vault Summit. That competition seemed ridiculously deep and everyone across the board vaulting well. Is that how you saw it too? And how did you feel winning that event in your first meet of the season?
King: Yes definitely. I mean I didn't see myself winning it but as that competition pressed on, I began to get more and more confident. So it felt great to come out on top and to jump great.
MileSplit US: A return trip for you to Reno. What do you enjoy most about the trip and event exclusively for pole vaulters?
King: I personally enjoyed watching the pros again and meeting them. Also meeting a lot of other polevaulters who enjoy what you enjoy.
MileSplit US: You have been able to make significant improvements in heights each year from freshmen to sophomore year as well as from sophomore to junior year. What do you attribute to those big improvements each year in the pole vault and do you feel that you have another big improvement or jump in you is to come in the near future?
King: The only thing I can say about that is that my trainer, Erica Bartolina, has just been feeding me knowledge about pole vaulting ever since freshman year. And I just love to pole vault so it all comes together and the result is clearing higher and higher bars. And I definitely feel another big improvement!
MileSplit US: How did you start working with Erica Bartolina and what influence and impact has she made on you as a vaulter?
King: My high school coach, Jay Stucky, sent me to her freshman year. She has just revealed high vaulters to me and I just want to be like them. And she has been a big impact on me. She has taught me everything I know and probably has forgotten more than I'll ever know about the vault.
Junior Year Highlights Video
MileSplit US: Louisiana has another nationally ranked vaulter in Gavin Gautreaux (US #5 at 16'8"). Speak on the rivalry that exists between you and Gavin and how having another vaulter on the same national level has helped push you?
King: I can tell ya now. There is no rivalry. He's a friend and in the world of pole vault to me, the rivalry is between you and the bar. Now if you are a competitor like me then you don't want to get beat so therefore he has helped me in that situation. It is just friends jumping together.
MileSplit US: Last summer, you qualified and got the opportunity compete in the World Youth Championships in Ukraine representing the United States. How was that first international meet experience?
King: It was great as I was not expecting anything like it. Me as a little town country boy going over there to experience that was a big deal and a little out of my comfort zone. I think that was one reason why I didn't jump as high as I could have.
MileSplit US: Does getting that first Team USA jersey make you think about the future and trying to earn a couple of those singlets?
King: Thats actually how my trainer motivated me to get there! So yes, I'm going to try harder and harder to get to that point again.
MileSplit US: What are your top remaining goals for your senior year?
King: Stay on top, jump eighteen feet, and win nationals.
MileSplit US: So you will be traveling to compete at the New York Armory for the indoor nationals in March? Are you especially hungry for that national title after finishing 2nd at the outdoor nationals in Greensboro?
King: Yes sir and most definitely!
Video Interview @ Reno Pole Vault Summit with Steve Underwood of NSAF
MileSplit US: Being from Louisiana gotta ask....what is your favorite of all the reality TV shows based in your home state and why?
King: Lol Duck Dynasty. Because they are just like every redneck from Louisiana!
MileSplit US: What is the area that you feel like you need to improve the most on as a vaulter?
King: Maturing physically obviously. But also finishing up top on the jump.
MileSplit US: How do you combat or been able to overcome the fear that many vaulters have to deal with when going to new greater heights or going to bigger new poles?
King: Poles I've never had problem with but personally I tell myself going into a higher height, treat it like its only ten feet. Don't change anything. Just be mentally prepared to tell yourself you can do it. Being confident in yourself is one of the main things I have learn throughout my career. Thats how I rep every bar I clear. Stay confident.
MileSplit US: You have signed with Southern Louisiana University. What ultimately made you pick them as your future college?
King: Because I cannot leave my support system. You know? And I trust Coach Mike (Bartolina) of course. I know him and he knows me. Plus I didn't want to go off anywhere.
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