The 17 ft, 5 inches written on Chase McGee’s spikes is scuffed and light now, however the Camas Excessive senior and latest pole vault state file holder plans to jot down a brand new personal-best pole vault mark he’s chasing.
In spite of everything, he rewrote the Washington highschool monitor and subject file books Tuesday by taking down the state’s oldest file. It took 56 years for highschool pole vault sensation Casey Carrigan’s state file of 17-4.75 to fall, and McGee did so with a 9-inch personal-best to interrupt Carrigan’s mark by one-quarter of an inch.
At 17-5, nobody in state historical past has cleared a better mark than McGee.
“Everything just came together perfectly,” he stated Wednesday. “It was a pretty darn, good day.”
Forgive McGee that he didn’t get any tutorial homework executed earlier than Camas’ dwelling twin meet with Union; his consideration was on watching footage of prior vaults. Or afterward, when he was busy making calls to coaches, then going for burgers and milkshakes with household to rejoice the achievement.
He felt one thing particular brewing for Tuesday, as a result of it had been brewing for weeks.
McGee continued the place he left off final spring when he set a brand new personal-best of 16-6 to win the Class 4A state title. This season, McGee received the Oregon Relays for a second time (16-4.25), then cleared 16-8 in consecutive meets, together with the distinguished Arcadia (Calif.) Invitational on April 12.
What was totally different about Tuesday for McGee that led to a 9-inch private finest, that elusive 17-foot plateau and extra? Progress had been constructing, he stated, plus Tuesday’s climate made for splendid situations: sunshine, little wind, and massive help at a mid-week twin meet.
He wouldn’t have it every other method, he stated.
“I felt pretty confident going into it,” McGee stated.
Tuesday, he cleared 15-6, 16-3, and 17-1. Then, got here the 17-5 that’s plastered round his bed room and written on his spikes.
He cleared it on his first try.
“It was actually amazing,” McGee stated. “I think I hit it just barely with my chest and chin, but I was just looking (at the bar) and I hear everyone cheering.”
McGee has executed his homework on Carrigan, the previous longtime state file holder. Carrigan’s leap from 1969 set a nationwide highschool file at a time when the world file was 17-10.50. A 12 months earlier, Carrigan, from Orting in Pierce County, made the 1968 Olympic crew at age 17 following his third of 4 Class A pole vault state titles.
McGee additionally grew to become the fourth athlete in state historical past to hit the 17-foot plateau, in accordance with state monitor and subject historian Scott Spruill. After McGee and Carrigan is Tyson Byers of College (17-1, 2002) and Eastlake’s Bowman Starr in 2019 (17-0). All 4 have state titles to their identify.
It’s been a monumental highschool monitor and subject season in Washington. McGee’s newest mark ranks third nationally and is the second state file to fall in current weeks. Mead’s Simon Roselli set a brand new discus file (218-7) and in February, Mercer Island’s Owen Powell grew to become the state’s first athlete to run the mile in beneath 4 minutes (3:56.66).
Friday, McGee competes on the twenty fifth annual Nike/Jesuit Twilight in Portland as the ultimate big-meet invitational for Camas earlier than the 4A/3A district meet Might 9-10 at McKenzie Stadium.
What’s McGee chasing now with six weeks left in the highschool monitor and subject season?
Examine his spikes.
“I’m thinking 17-8 or 18 (feet),” he stated, “but we’ll see. I think something big might come after this one.”
