Spencer Evans Soars To State Record Vault At Millrose

Photo by Derrick Dingle

Rocketman Pole Vault and Lake Norman senior Spencer Evans has taken down one of the tougher state records out there over the weekend at the Millrose Games.

In 2008 Scott Houston (Northwest Guilford) cleared 16-10  at the Reno Pole Vault summit breaking the previous state record of 16-3 by Shannon Pope of T.W. Andrews.  At the time Houston and Pope were the only two North Carolina boys over 16 feet. 

Since Houston set the record three athletes prior to Evan's had cleared 16 feet, but weren't close to Houston's State Record.  

As a freshman Spencer Evans began doing Pole Vault.  Over the course of the season he went from jumping 10-6 to 14-1 at the end of the summer.  As a sophomore indoors he was consistently jumping in the upper 15s and cleared 16-5.25 for an All-American finish at Indoor Nationals.  This moved him up to NC#2 All-Time with over two years to tackle the state record mark of 16-10.

Over the last two years Evans has been a consistent competitor.  He earned four All-American honors in the Pole Vault as well as four NCHSAA 4A State Championships in the indoor and outdoor seasons.

This indoor season Evans has been consistently over 16 feet in his three meets leading up to Millrose while setting a new PR of 16-8.

At Millrose, he'd enter the competition at 15-11 where only 5 athletes remained.  He was the final competitor to enter the competition.  He'd miss his first attempt, but bounced back to clear it on his second attempt and then 16-2 ¾ on his first attempt along with one other competitor.  Both he and Bradley Jelmert  (NJ) would move up to 17-0 ¾ which would be a PR for both athletes.  

Evans would miss on his first attempt, but would clear the 17 foot barrier on his second attempt and the overall North Carolina State Record which he's chased for the last few years. 

Evans will compete in the Pole Vault and Long Jump at the NCHSAA 4A Indoor State Championships this week.  He's in contention for the Long Jump State Title and will look to break Scott Houston's 16-6 NCHSAA State Meet Record this Saturday.  

Boys Top 10 All-Time Indoor Pole Vault List (Full List)