Girls Pole Vault

Kaitlyn Merritt, a junior from Santa Margarita, is the returning state champion and #2 returner in the country. Merritt has a best of 13-08 which she set and the Arcadia Invitational last spring, setting a national sophomore record in the process. Her other victories include the Eagle Invitational, the Orange County Championships, the California Relays, and of course CIF SS Finals and Masters. In fact, Merritt won every single Pole Vault competition she entered last spring clearing 13 feet in nine different meets.

Senior Great Wagner of Los Gatos is Merritt's closest rival in the state, and the only other vaulter who has cleared 13 feet. Wagner won at the Stanford Invitational, the CCS Top 8 Classic, and the CCS Finals and Masters meets. She registered her PR of 13-02 at the CCS Top 8 Classic, and cleared the 13 foot barrier in four different meets last spring. It appears she is entering the 2014 outdoor season on a mission clearing 13 feet twice this winter. She tied her outdoor best of 13-02 at the Reno Pole Vault Summit in January, and came back a month later to clear 13-01.5 at the Millrose Games, taking second.

Next, Taylore Jaques of Presentation leads a group of four vaulters who have been over the 12 foot mark. Jaques has a PR of 12-07 and has consistently been over 12 feet. She is the only other retruning state finalist (besides Merritt and Wagner), and may be ready to take it to the next level.

Kaitlyn Merritt of Santa Margarita clears 13-06 at the California Relays

Pole Vault Top Returners