KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
DES MOINES, IOWA ? Kylie Hutson, who won four national championships in women's pole vault while a member of the Indiana State track & field team, may have soared her way to a spot on the World Team that will compete in Korea later this year after clearing 15'-5” (4.70 meters) during the Pole Vault at the Mall Thursday, part of the Drake Relays competition.
The height is the best in the world during the outdoor season, surpassing the 15'-1” (4.60 meter) mark set by Australia's Alana Boyd earlier this month. Hutson already had the best vault in the United States after clearing 14'-9” (4.50 meters) in Lawrence, Kan., last Saturday.
Hutson is working towards earning a spot on Team USA which will compete in the IAAF World Championships in Athletics August 27-September 4 in Daegu, Korea. Even if the height does not count towards the world standings, it should count toward Hutson making the United States team. She may also be well on her way to the U.S. team that will compete at the 2012 Summer Games in London.
"Her performance is a standard which will allow her to compete at Worlds and Olympics," John McNichols, Indiana State track & field and cross country coordinator, said. "She still has to compete for a spot on the team at the USATF Championships in Eugene, Ore., this June."
Hutson won four straight NCAA Division I national championships as a member of the Indiana State Sycamore team, winning the 2009 and 2010 Indoor titles and the 2009 and 2010 outdoor titles.
Four of the top eight vaulters in both the men's and women's U.S. rankings took part in the unique competition. Five teams were paired with a male and female competitor joining forces to vie for a team championship based on the best combined finishing place of the five pairs. It is the first year women have vaulted in the mall.
Hutson teamed up with American record holder Brad Walker to win the competition. Each received a $3,000 gift certificate to spend at the Jordan Creek Town Center Mall were the event was staged.
