Headlines
Former Ole Miss Standout Sam Kendricks Sets New American Pole Vault Record
By Adam Brown
Sports Editor
adam.brown@hottytoddy.com
Aug 15, 2016; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Sam Kendricks (USA) celebrates after placing third during the men’s high jump final in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Estadio Olimpico Joao Havelange. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports
Former Ole Miss Rebel and Olympic bronze medalist Sam Kendricks became one of the world’s best pole vaulters after breaking an American record at the outdoor national title of the USA Track and Field Championships at Drake Stadium on Saturday.
The Oxford native set a new record as he jumped an American record height of 6.06 meters (19′, 10.5”) Ukraine’s Sergei Bubka, who set the world outdoor record of 6.14 m (20-01.75) on July 31, 1994, leads him by .08 meters.
Kendricks’ mother, Marni Kendricks, who is the assistant dean of the School of Engineering told HottyToddy.com about the work he has put in over the years with his dad as his coach saying, “he accomplished the impossible.”
“Seeing him jump higher than any other American in history – I don’t even have the words to describe my emotions. I couldn’t be happier,” she said.
Kendricks was flawless over his first eight bars throughout the competition and his sixth consecutive U.S. outdoor title with his clearance of 5.86 m (19′, 2.75”). He went on to clear 5.91 meters (19′, 4.75”) on his first attempt before trying the record.
Kendricks now stands at No. 2 on the all-time world outdoor list and tied for third on the combined indoor/outdoor list, in addition to toppling Mondo Duplantis’ American record of 6.05 meters (19′, 10.25”) from 2018. Kendricks’ win is his sixth outdoor title in a row, making him the first American to win that many consecutively. In 2018, Kendricks became the first American to win five in a row since Cornelius Warmerdam won five from 1940-44.
| Mon, Nov 4 |  | vs Long Island University | W, 90-60 |
| Fri, Nov 8 |  | vs Grambling | W, 66-64 |
| Tue, Nov 12 |  | vs South Alabama | W, 64-54 |
| Sat, Nov 16 |  | vs Colorado State | W, 84-69 |
| Thu, Nov 21 |  | vs Oral Roberts | L, 100-68 |
| Thu, Nov 28 |  | vs BYU | W, 96-85 OT |
| Fri, Nov 29 |  | vs 13 Purdue | L, 80-78 |
| Tue, Dec 3 |  | @ Louisville | W, 86-63 |
| Sat, Dec 7 |  | vs Lindenwood | W, 86-53 |
| Sat, Dec 14 |  | vs Southern Miss | W, 77-46 |
| Tue, Dec 17 |  | vs Southern | W, 74-61 |
| Sat, Dec 21 |  | vs Queens University | W, 80-62 |
| Sat, Dec 28 |  | @ Memphis | L, 87-70 |
| Sat, Jan 4 |  | vs Georgia | W, 63-51 |
| Wed, Jan 8 |  | @ 23 Arkansas | W, 73-66 |
| Sat, Jan 11 |  | vs LSU | W, 77-65 |
| Tue, Jan 14 |  | @ 5 Alabama | W, 74-64 |
| Sat, Jan 18 |  | @ 17 Mississippi State | L, 81-84 |
| Wed, Jan 22 |  | vs 13 Texas A&M | L, 62-63 |
| Sat, Jan 25 |  | @ Missouri | L, 83-75 |
| Wed, Jan 29 |  | vs Texas | W, 72-69 |
| Sat, Feb 1 |  | vs 2 Auburn | L, 92-82 |
| Tue, Feb 4 |  | vs 10 Kentucky | W, 98-84 |
| Sat, Feb 8 | | @ LSU | 7:30 PM SECN |
| Wed, Feb 12 |  | @ South Carolina | 6:00 PM SECN |
| Sat, Feb 15 | | vs 17 Mississippi State | 5:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Feb 22 |  | @ Vanderbilt | 2:30 PM SECN |
| Wed, Feb 26 | | @ 2 Auburn | 6:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Mar 1 |  | vs 12 Oklahoma | 1:00 PM TBA |
| Wed, Mar 5 |  | vs 1 Tennessee | 8:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Mar 8 |  | @ 6 Florida | 5:00 PM SECN |