Charles Dever of West Chester Rustin jumped 17 feet even to break the Pennsylvania pole vault state record on Monday afternoon in a dual meet at Unionville High School in Kennett Square.
Dever, a senior, became the first high school boy in PA history to vault over 17 feet. That eclipses the previous outdoor state record of 16 feet, 6 inches, held by three boys: Joe Berry (Hatboro-Horsham; 2007), Chris Williams (Strath Haven; 2012), and Ryan Wilkes (Valley View; 2015). Andrew Rademacher of Hickory held the all-conditions state record with an indoor jump of 16-8 from 2004.
Coaches confirmed that weigh-ins were conducted and laser measurements were used during competition.
Dever was third in AAA at outdoor states last spring (15-0). During this past indoor season, he took fourth at indoor states (15-0) before posting his previous career best of 16-05.25 at New Balance Nationals Indoor to finish sixth overall.
The 17-foot performance moves Dever into the PA No. 1 spot and tied at US No. 6. One of the top head-to-head battles in AAA is shaping up in the boys pole vault this spring between Dever and East Pennsboro's Payton Morris, who jumped 16-3 at Shippensburg this past week.