WATCH Tori Weeks Clear US #6 All-Time 14-1 At Great Southwest

Great Southwest Classic
MileSplit Staff

More Girls Pole Vault Video Coverage from Great Southwest

Tori Weeks, who normally plays second fiddle to her indoor national record holding twin sister Lexi Weeks in most pole vault competitions, had a much different outcome at the Great Southwest Classic. Tori cleared a new personal best height of 14'1" to break the meet record to solidify her US #2 ranking as well as move her to US #6 all-time in the event. Only three high school girls have ever cleared a greater height outdoors than Tori's Great Southwest Classic winning performance.

The Weeks sisters of Cabot High School in Arkansas came into the competition both clearing an opening height of 13 feet on their first attempts each before Lexi cleared again on a first try at 13'6", while Tori needed a second attempt at the height to clear the bar cleanly. Instead of going up another 6 inches, the Weeks asked to go to 14'1" to compete for the outright meet record which previously stood at 14 feet.

Tori had been sitting at a season best clearance of 13'9" prior to Great Southwest, but finally got over that 14 foot height in successfully clearing her second attempt at 14'1" to move herself up on the U.S. all-time list. Her twin sister Lexi was unable to clear any of her three attempts at 14'1" thus giving Tori her first win of the season over her sister, current high school teammate, and future college teammate at the University of Arkansas.

Interesting to note that despite their hometown of Cabot High School being nearly 13 hours and nearly 900 miles away from Albuquerque, New Mexico, the poles for the Weeks did not fly to the Great Southwest Classic like they did, but instead their grandparents made the drive for them to transport their most valued equipment strapped to the hood of their vehicle.

The poles will not be shipped by air either when the Weeks twins compete in their first national championship meet ever in two weeks at the New Balance Nationals in Greensboro, North Carolina. Not as far as a drive for their grandparents if they chose to be the carriers again. Just over 12 hours and over 800 miles from Cabot to Greensboro.

With US #2 all-time performer Lexi and US #6 all-time performer Tori still chasing after their future Arkansas teammate Desiree Freier's year old national record of 14'7.25" set last year at the World Junior Championships, New Balance Nationals may be one of their final and best meets to chase after the record. They have not completely ruled out possibly competing at the USATF Junior Nationals in late June at Hayward Field to try and qualify for Team USA's Pan-Am Games team.