Sommers, a Duke signee, clears 14-8.50 (4.48m) on her first attempt in women’s elite section at Vaulter Club Vaulter Magazine Frosh/Soph Championships to also achieve top American U-20 all-time outdoor mark, eclipsing June 26 performance of 14-8.25 achieved by Pasqualetti at Stars and Stripes competition 

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The last time Paige Sommers attempted the national high school pole vault record at the Big Red Barn facility in Sun City, Calif., the Westlake High standout wound up being overshadowed June 26 by Leah Pasqualetti of Orchard Park, N.Y., with the current Kent State freshman achieving the all-time prep outdoor mark at the Vaulter Club Vaulter Magazine Stars and Stripes Meet.

Sommers, 17, had the runaway, and the spotlight, all to herself Saturday in the women’s elite section at the Vaulter Club Vaulter Magazine Frosh/Soph Championships, and the Duke-bound senior didn’t disappoint, achieving the greatest performance of her young career.

Competing unattached, Sommers cleared 14 feet, 8.50 inches (4.48m) on her first attempt to surpass Pasqualetti’s effort of 14-8.25 (4.48m) at the same venue, not only securing the national high school outdoor record, but also the top American Under-20 outdoor clearance in history.

VIDEO OF NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL OUTDOOR RECORD 14-8.50 (4.48m)

“I went into shock right away,” said Sommers, who had cleared the national high school junior class record and California all-time prep mark 14-6 (4.42m) last February at the Thousand Oaks Invitational.

“It’s a dream come true. I’m so excited.”

Sommers needed three attempts to clear 14-4 (4.37m), which surpassed her own national outdoor lead this year after producing  a 14-3.25 (4.35m) effort Feb. 20 at the Vaulter Club Vaulter Magazine Grand Prix Spring event. Sommers and Kortney Oates each attempted 14-7.25 (4.45m) at that meet, but both vaulters were unsuccessful. 

Following official measurement of the record height by USATF official Kirk Bentz, Sommers wasted little time making history Saturday, barely brushing the bar in clearing 14-8.50 on her first attempt, just one week after managing to clear only 12-11.50 (3.95m) to win the NSAF USA Meet of Champions in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

She also surpassed the women’s facility record produced by Pasqualetti, along with becoming the first female vaulter to achieve four 14-foot clearances at the Big Red Barn, breaking a tie with Oates at three. 

Sommers then took three attempts at 14-10 (4.52m), which would have secured the U.S. Olympic Trials qualifying standard along with surpassing the absolute national prep all-time mark of 14-9 (4.50m), achieved indoors in March 2019 by Chloe Cunliffe of Northwest Pole Vault Club and West Seattle High in Washington.

Cunliffe also set the national high school outdoor record later in April 2019 by clearing 14-8 (4.47m) at the Arcadia Invitational, a performance that now ranks third among American U-20 all-time outdoor clearances.

Sommers’ effort ranks No. 6 among outdoor clearances by Americans this year, along with 10th in the world. She also equaled the No. 15 all-time World U-20 competitor.