Sam Kendricks Smashes U.S. Record With Best Outdoor Vault In 25 Years
Sam Kendricks Smashes U.S. Record With Best Outdoor Vault In 25 Years
The last time a higher outdoor mark was achieved was when the great Sergey Bubka broke the world record 25 years ago.
Buried underneath a mass of pole vaulters who dog-piled him in celebration, Sam Kendricks realized his goal of becoming the American record-holder and the second-best outdoor vaulter in world history today at the USATF Outdoor Championships.
Kendricks' world-leading PR vault, 6.06m/19-10.5, which he made on his second attempt at the height, improved on the former record held somewhat controversially by dual Swedish-American citizen Armand (Mondo) Duplantis, who set the mark at 6.05m while competing for Sweden at the European Championships last year in August.
The last time a higher outdoor mark was achieved was when the great Sergey Bubka broke the world record 25 years ago.
Updated All-Time Best Outdoor Marks:
| 1. Sergey Bubka | 6.14m |
| 2. Sam Kendricks | 6.06m |
| 3. Maxim Tarasov | 6.05m |
| 3. Dmitri Markov | 6.05m |
| 3. Renaud Lavillenie | 6.05m |
| 3. Armand Duplantis | 6.05m |
Kendricks shut it down and did not take any more attempts after accomplishing the feat. His facility record at Drake Stadium might last forever.
A new American Record calls for a dog pile on @samkendricks ? 6.06m!! ? pic.twitter.com/MLohsI7nIM
— Sandi Morris, OLY?? (@sandicheekspv) July 27, 2019
As the 2017 world champion, Kendricks has a bye into Doha, and will be joined by three other Americans at the 2019 IAAF World Championships:
2) Cole Walsh (Nike), 5.76m
3) KC Lightfoot (Baylor), 5.76m
4) Zach Bradford (Kansas), 5.71m
Watch Sam Kendricks' American-record vault here:
? AMERICAN RECORD ? @samkendricks
— USATF (@usatf) July 27, 2019
6.06m/19-10.50
Swipe ? to watch#ToyotaUSATFOutdoors pic.twitter.com/QqViQ71LVl