I started pole vaulting at about 8 years of age... using a hoe to jump over irrigation ditch in cotton fields.. finished 3rd in state my jr year, 12 feet.. something.. didnt compete my sr year. Remember watching the guys at our school use swedish steel poles before fiberglass poles were used... and landing in a sand pit before they were padded.

yep, and before him was Ricky Parris at McMurry... my coach took me to practice with him once upon a time... Abilene had some of the best pole vaulters in the county at one time.

Rickey Parris was a four-time NAIA national champion in the pole vault at McMurry in the early 1970s. In addition to his four NAIA titles, Rickey had another all-American finish to his credit. His stellar career included three Lone Star Conference championships (1970, '71 and '72) and he has the distinction of being the first-ever athlete in both the LSC and NAIA to clear 17 feet in the pole vault. Rickey won a total of 34 pole vault competitions and set 22 meet records in doing so. He earned the LSC's Outstanding Field Performer in 1970 and the McM Athlete of the Year in 1971-72. He is also a member of the NAIA Hall of Fame, as well.

Rickey sounds like a bad arse.

….LConn also, but that goes without sayin’.

Never found an event in track and field that interested me... Just football and wrestling... Dan

wrestling was for guys that couldnt box..