TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State pole vaulter
Will Staggs will square off with the nation's best Friday afternoon, as he takes part in the pole vault at the NCAA Indoor National Championships in Boston, Massachusetts.
Friday's competition from The TRACK at New Balance, which features the top 16 pole vaulters in Division I, will begin at 2 p.m.
The Road To Boston
Fresh off an outdoor season which saw him earn Honorable Mention All-America with a top-20 finish at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor National Championships, Staggs set his sights on being one of the 16 qualifiers for this year's indoor championships.
Staggs had a pair of record-setting meets in February that booked his spot in Boston. He cleared 5.50m (18-00.50) at Notre Dame's Meyo Invitational and followed that with a clearance of 5.52m (18-01.25) at Arkansas' Tyson Invitational. The latter of those two marks stands as the current indoor program record and was also the mark that sealed Staggs' spot in the NCAA Indoor National Championships.
Rising To The Top
Staggs' 2023-24 season was arguably the best and most consistent season ever produced by an Indiana State men's pole vaulter. He broke his own indoor program record twice, shattered Indiana State's facility record and was named the MVC Men's Field Athlete of the Week an unprecedented five times in a six-meet span.
A model of consistency, Staggs became the first MVC pole vaulter to clear 18 feet since 2001 with his back-to-back record-setting weekends at Notre Dame and Arkansas. He has cleared marks of 5.20m (17-00.75) or better in each of his last nine indoor meets, dating back to last year, and 13 of his last 14 meets, indoor or outdoor.
When one looks at Staggs' marks this season, it's no surprise to see him among the nation's elite. From start to finish this season, Staggs has cleared 5.34m (17-06.25), 5.35m (17-06.50), 5.25m (17-02.75), 5.41m (17-09.00), 5.50m (18-00.50), 5.52m (18-01.25) and 5.45m (17-10.50). Each of those last four marks are equal to or better than the school record entering this season, which he also set last year.
Bright Lights, Big Stage
Indiana State athletes have shown a knack for producing their best results when it matters most, and Staggs is no exception to that. A member of each of Indiana State's last five MVC title-winning teams, he already owns four MVC individual pole vault championships to his name.
Staggs has won each of the last three MVC indoor pole vault titles, becoming just the sixth pole vaulter, men's or women's, in conference history to win three straight individual indoor titles and the first since Indiana State and MVC Hall of Famer Kylie Hutson.
Staggs On The National Stage
Friday's championship will be Staggs' second career NCAA National Championship appearance and his first NCAA Indoor National Championships appearance. He earned a top-20 finish in the pole vault at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor National Championships with a clearance of 5.30m (17-04.50).
Staggs has also appeared in each of the last two NCAA East First Rounds during outdoor season, which afforded him the opportunity to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor National Championships last season.
Championship Format
All 16 qualifying athletes will be in one flight for the pole vault, starting at 2 p.m. Friday. The top eight finishers will be named First Team All-America, with those placing 9-16 being named Second Team All-America.
Athletes must record a mark to earn All-America honors.
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