Look Who Was Coming in 2021

Austin (The Balding Eagle) Miller, originally from Herndon, VA, graduated from High Point University in 2016 as a the School record holder, 4x Big South Conference Champion, Conference Championship record holder, and 2x NCAA first round qualifier with a college PR of 5.25m (17’2).
Austin currently trains in High Point, NC as part of the Vault House Elite club under Scott Houston and Eric Morell. In the 2018 season, Austin placed 9th and 8th respectively at the indoor and outdoor USATF National Championships, and increased his PR to 5.66m (18’6.75). In 2019, Austin place 4th in the USATF National Indoor Championships.

Sean Young from Titusville, FL . University of South Florida Grad with a degree in Criminology. Big East Champion in 2008, competed at the 2008 NCAA Championships, also competed at the USA Championships in 2013. Is the former Key West island record holder at 17’1″. And has a PR of 18’2 3/4!

Garrett Starkey is from Queen Creek Arizona where he trains in his own backyard. He was a two-time Arizona state champion in 2011 and 2012. He graduated from Stanford University in 2016 with a degree in human biology. He finished his last year of eligibility at Arizona State University while he completed a master’s degree in Exercise Science. In 2017 he completed his college eligibility by earning second team All American at the NCAA Championships. Last year Garrett began his first post collegiate season with a personal best of 18’4.5″ and a 9th place finish at USA Nationals.

Nathan Hiett is from Queen Creek, Arizona and an Arizona State graduate. Nathan is both a coach and athlete at the Arizona Pole Vault Academy where he trains under Dean Starkey. His personal best is 17’5″ both indoors and outdoors. Nathan was a 3 time American East Conference Champion and the runner-up at the 2018 PAC 12 Championships.

Tray Oates won 2 George State High School Championships and set the 5A Georgia state record (16’1) while living in Acworth, GA. In 2018 Tray graduated from Samford University with a B.S in Foods and Nutrition with an emphasis on sports nutrition. At Samford Tray was a 5 time NCAA D1 All-American and 4 time US championships qualifier. He finished 4th at the 2016 US Olympic Trials and was the alternate for the 2016 Olympic Games. Tray’s PR is 5.66 (18’6.8″). Tray currently lives in Phoenix working as a bartender and coach to help support his training for world championships and Olympics to come.

Jill Marois, originally from MA, started pole vaulting in high school finishing with a PB of 10’6″. She competed at High Point University for four years accumulating indoor and outdoor school records, along with 3 conference titles and an appearance at the NCAA east Regional meet, finishing her collegiate career with a PB of 4.22m or 13’10”. She is now entering her 4th season as a post collegiate professional training in Knoxville, TN with a current PB of 4.45m or 14’7″. She hopes to appear at more US championships, and other national and international competitions!

Alexandra Pevtsova is a two-time SunBelt Conference Champion, and three-time Sun Belt Conference runner up. Alexandra turned down a scholarship to an art college so she could pole vault in college. In 2018 she was USATF National Championship qualifier and has a personal best of 14′ 1.75″. For the last three years Alexandra has been a traveling gypsy as she works on her pole vault. Ask Alexandra about her pet snake named Banana.

2019 has been a great year for Carson as he prepares for the Olympics in 2020. In 2019 raised his personal best form 17’5.5″ to 18’5.5″ and he placed 6th in the USATF National Outdoor Championships. He is looking forward to starting off the Olympic year in Key West.

Howard Booth is currently the #1 ranked pole vaulter in the World in the M75-79 age for the 2019 Indoor Season and had a #4 ranking for the 2018 indoor season. Howard has won two age-group World Championships in the last eight years in addition to a number of USATF, National Senior Games, and Canadian National Championships.

Kenzie Shell is the current Michigan State High School record holder. Indoor- 13’6. Outdoor- 13’9. At the University of Oklahoma she was a 2016 All-American and current OU Record holder. Indoor- 4.30m Outdoor- 4.41m. Kenzie graduated from OU in July 2019 with a degree in nutrition and minor in international studies. Just moved to Jonesboro, AR to train at the famous Bell Athletics and working at a bakery and a meal prep company. She also creates and sells her own artwork with her sister.

Gary Hunter is one of the all-time great Masters pole vaulters. He has numerous World Masters and USATF Masters Championships. As a youth he participated in three Olympic Trials 1976, 1980, 1984. Gary is the current USA record holder in the 50-54 and 60-64 age groups at 15’7″ and 13’4″ respectively.

Paul was a 1996 and 1984 Olympic Trials Qualifier in the Pole Vault. Paul set the Master’s World Records in the following age groups: 45-49, 50-54, 55-59 In 2011 Paul won the Master’s World Championships. In 2019 he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Luke Winder (@Lukeskywinder), from Illinois, a 2 time state champion and previous state record holder, graduate of North Central College where he won an all division NCAA record 7 national titles in the pole vault, set two national records and got a degree in exercise science. Now Luke trains and coaches at his family’s pole vault facility in the suburbs of Chicago, RISE Athletic Club (@risepolevault). An all time PR of 5.60 (18’4.5) and hoping to raise it on his first trip to Key West!

Texas State University grad 2016
Texas State indoor and outdoor record holder
Sunbelt Conference record holder
2016 All-American
2016 Canadian Olympian
2017 World championship finalist
2018 Canadian National champion
Currently training at Elite Sportz San Antonio under Coach Brookelyn Dickson preparing for the Tokyo 2021 Olympics.

After 35 years away from the sport, Steve Hanes took up pole vaulting again 5 years ago. Steve competes in the Masters (60-64) Division where he is currently ranked no. 10 in the USA and no. 12 in the world with a jump of 3.35m (11′). Steve still holds his high school record of 15′ (Ottawa, Ks) and was a five-time Kansas State Champion as well as twice the National Jr. Olympic Champion and age-group national record holder. Steve currently resides in Key West.