Usually having one pole vaulter clear 13-feet is big news.
In 2021 Colorado had three.
The last year Colorado had one pole vaulter over 13-feet outdoors was 2017 - when Mia Manson cleared 13-0.75.
But in 2021 the bar was quite literally raised.
Add that it was by two freshmen, and one sophomore.
Clearly, we've got some exciting years ahead of us...
Megan Kelleghan, Lilly Nichols, and Anna Willis comprised of the three pole vaulters who cleared 13-feet in 2021.
While Broomfield freshman, Nichols, and The Classical Academy freshman, Willis, did clear 13-feet indoors, Willis was the first of the three to clear the barrier outdoors. She went 13-0 at the R2J Invitational on May 7.
Let the race begin...
A week later Silver Creek sophomore, Kelleghan, joined the club, clearing 13-0 at the Murray Kula Invitational on May 15.
On June 5 Willis inched ahead - two-inches in fact - clearing 13-2 at the Titan Invite on June 5, then added another inch to that, clearing 13-3 at the Stutler Twilight the following week on June 12.
Nichols joined the race halfway through June, clearing 13-3.5 at 2021 Front Range League Championships.
But the - race - to the top wasn't over.
Kelleghan saved her best for last, winning the 4A state title at the Colorado State Track & Field Championships with a Colorado No. 1 of 13-4.5.
On the topic of winning state titles, Willis won the 3A state title, while Nichols won the 5A state title.
Kellghan capped her season ranked as the No. 7 sophomore in the country, while Nichols and Willis were the No. 1 and No. 2 freshmen in the country.
Collectively, Willis cleared 13-feet a staggering four times during the outdoor season, including a 13-1.5 clearance at the Gunnison Street Vault in July. Kelleghan cleared 13-feet twice, and Nichols once.
Like I mentioned earlier in this article, we've got some exciting years ahead of us...