AUSTIN, Texas – Indiana State sophomore pole vaulter William Staggs tied his outdoor career-best mark of 5.30m (17-04.50) Wednesday evening, earning Honorable Mention All-America honors in his first NCAA Outdoor National Championships appearance.
 
Staggs cleared marks of 5.00m (16-04.75), 5.15m (16-10.75) and 5.30m (17-04.50) to place 18th in the event. With his first-attempt clearance on the opening height, Staggs became the first Sycamore men's pole vaulter to compete at an NCAA Division I Outdoor National Championship.
 
Wednesday's performance wraps up a stellar sophomore season for Staggs, who set the indoor school record in the pole vault (5.41m/17-09.00) at the MVC Indoor Championships and also moved up to second in program history outdoors in the event (5.30m/17-04.50). He was all-conference both indoors (MVC Champion) and outdoors (runner-up) in the pole vault, while also earning the MVC's Elite 17 Award during indoor season.
 
Staggs cleared 5.00m (16-04.75) or better in the pole vault in 14 of his 16 meets across indoor and outdoor season, including each of the last eight outdoor meets. In addition to that, he cleared 5.20m (17-00.75) or better on nine occasions, six of which came during outdoor season.
 
The 2022-23 season showed marked improvement for Staggs. The three-time MVC Pole Vault Champion made his NCAA Outdoor National Championships debut, improved his standing at the NCAA East First Round by 22 spots compared to his 2021-22 result and climbed the school record books both indoors and outdoors. His six first-place finishes during the 2022-23 season give him 12 for his career.
 
Up Next
Ryann Porter takes to the triple jump runway Saturday night at 9:10 p.m., making her third appearance at the NCAA Outdoor National Championships.
 
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