King bounces back from setback on first day of competition in Michigan to achieve lifetime-best 15-1.50 (4.61m) in Allendale, equals No. 7 all-time collegiate competitor and matches No. 16 performer in U.S. indoor history, contributing to six Division 2 records across four meets during big weekend

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Photos courtesy of Roberts Wesleyan

Following her first setback in competition this season, Roberts Wesleyan junior Brynn King rebounded with the best pole vault performance of her career Saturday to add to the NCAA Division 2 record on the second day of the Grand Valley State Big Meet at the Laker Turf Building in Allendale, Mich.

King cleared 15 feet, 1.50 inches (4.61m) on her second attempt, equaling the No. 7 all-time collegiate indoor competitor and matching the No. 16 performer in U.S. indoor history.

RESULTS

King became the first Division 2 female pole vaulter to achieve a 15-foot clearance following her 15-1 (4.60m) effort Jan. 20 at the Golden Eagle Winter Welcome Back meet at SUNY Brockport in New York.

During the first day of competition Friday at Grand Valley State, King cleared 14-2 (4.32m) to place second behind former Division 2 record holder Kristen Leland, an American professional athlete who achieved a 14-8 (4.47m) performance on her second attempt.

But King took advantage of another competition Saturday by achieving a third-attempt clearance at 14-8.25 (4.48m), before improving her personal-best effort by one centimeter, in addition to three unsuccessful tries at 15-3.50 (4.66m).

King achieved one of six Division 2 indoor records over the weekend, along with Angelo State running 3:36.14 in the women’s 4x400-meter relay at the Jarvis Scott Open at Texas Tech, Minnesota State’s Denisha Cartwright matching the women’s 60-meter hurdles all-time mark of 8.05 on her home track at the Maverick Premier event, along with Adams State achieving a trio of memorable performances at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational at Boston University.

Miguel Coca set the men’s indoor 3,000 record by clocking 7:44.90, with Adams State teammate Gracie Hyde becoming the first female athlete in division history to eclipse the 9-minute barrier in the 3,000 with her 8:58.33 performance, in addition to anchoring the Grizzlies’ distance medley relay to an 11:08.94 effort.

King, a Duke transfer, is second among all collegiate pole vaulters this season behind Washington freshman Hana Moll at 15-2.75 (4.64m), making her the No. 5 all-time competitor in NCAA indoor history.

Moll and King are ranked Nos. 4 and 5 in the U.S. this season. Moll is equal to No. 12 in the world this year and King is ranked 17th among global indoor competitors.