Penn Relays Carnival High School Boys Invitational pole vault
- photo by PennTrackXC.com
In July, 2003, then junior Andrew Rademacher of Hickory High School in Hermitage (District 10), cleared 4.99 meters (16-04.50) in the pole vault at the USATF Region 2 Champs (7/10-13) being held at Richard Stockton College in New Jersey. That jump would remain the best outdoor jump of his prep career. Now, according to Ron Lopresti, president of the Pennsylvania Track & FIeld Coaches Association, it is also being acknowledged as the best all-time prep pole vault in PA history...
The record had long been acknowledged as 16-09, set by a Susuqehanna Community athlete in 1990. But with the 2007 efforts by Hatboro-Horsham's Joe Berry and Daniel Boone's Justin Germani achieving the 16+ zone (Berry actually cleared 16-10 in a dual meet in May; meets which are not considered for all-time best status), the discussion on the all-time best mark was renewed. According to Lopresti, the PTFCA decided, after investigation... "that the former record was not verifiable and thus we (PTFCA) will now recognize the 16'4.5" of (Andrew) Rademacher as the record until it is broken."
For the record, Rademacher's personal best in high school came during indoor of his senior year at the 2004 Nike Indoor Classic, a 16-08 effort. His best outdoor jump as a senior was his 16-00.75 at the June 2, 2004 USATF Junior Outdoor T&F Championships.
For all the PA Boys' Outdoor bests, click here.
For a treasure-trove of elite marks, all-time bests and more, visit the PennTrackXC.com Elite Archives page by clicking here.