T&F: Lightfoot Sets Pole Vault School Record
2/15/2019 9:14:00 PM | Track & Field
Freshman from Lee’s Summit, Mo., eclipses Bill Payne’s 28-year-old Baylor mark.
WACO, Texas – KC Lightfoot broke a Baylor indoor school record that stood for 28 years, and Riley Richards tied his dad/coach Brandon Richards on the all-time school performer list on a historic night for the Bears' pole vaulters in Lubbock, Texas.
"Super, super evening for those three altogether," head coach Todd Harbour said. "Tuesdi (Tidwell), Riley and KC. Riley getting a PB was outstanding. He moved up on the list. KC breaking a school record – a pretty renowned school record – as a freshman, you can't really say much more than that. That's outstanding."
With the 2019 Big 12 Championships looming next weekend in Lubbock, Lightfoot and Richards along with Tidwell made the trek to the Texas Tech Matador Qualifier looking to improve upon their indoor marks on what would become a night for the record books.
It took Lightfoot just one attempt at 18-5.25 to surpass Bill Payne's school record of 18-4.75, set in 1991 in Norman, Okla. Lightfoot, a freshman from Lee's Summit, Mo., didn't stop there as he cleared 18-7.5 (5.68m) to firmly entrench himself as Baylor's indoor school record holder. He now stands in the No. 6 spot in the NCAA this season.
Richards, a sophomore from China Spring, Texas, achieved his personal best pole vault at 17-10.5 (5.45m) to tie for the No. 6 performer spot in Baylor history with his dad/coach Brandon Richards. He also holds a coveted top-16 NCAA ranking, currently sitting at No. 15.
Tidwell came away with a second-place finish with a jump of 13-3.5 (4.05m), her second-best performance of the season. The sophomore from Early, Texas, is the No. 2 indoor performer in Baylor history (13-5.25, set this season in Iowa City).
"It was a great night for all of them," Harbour added. "They love jumping out there. It's a great place, and I'm hoping that they'll have that kind of night at conference as well."
The Baylor pole vaulters will be joined by the rest of the team next weekend, Feb. 22-23, for the Big 12 Championships hosted by Texas Tech.
For continued updates on the Baylor Track & Field team, follow the team's social media accounts all season long: @BaylorTrack.
"Super, super evening for those three altogether," head coach Todd Harbour said. "Tuesdi (Tidwell), Riley and KC. Riley getting a PB was outstanding. He moved up on the list. KC breaking a school record – a pretty renowned school record – as a freshman, you can't really say much more than that. That's outstanding."
With the 2019 Big 12 Championships looming next weekend in Lubbock, Lightfoot and Richards along with Tidwell made the trek to the Texas Tech Matador Qualifier looking to improve upon their indoor marks on what would become a night for the record books.
It took Lightfoot just one attempt at 18-5.25 to surpass Bill Payne's school record of 18-4.75, set in 1991 in Norman, Okla. Lightfoot, a freshman from Lee's Summit, Mo., didn't stop there as he cleared 18-7.5 (5.68m) to firmly entrench himself as Baylor's indoor school record holder. He now stands in the No. 6 spot in the NCAA this season.
Richards, a sophomore from China Spring, Texas, achieved his personal best pole vault at 17-10.5 (5.45m) to tie for the No. 6 performer spot in Baylor history with his dad/coach Brandon Richards. He also holds a coveted top-16 NCAA ranking, currently sitting at No. 15.
Tidwell came away with a second-place finish with a jump of 13-3.5 (4.05m), her second-best performance of the season. The sophomore from Early, Texas, is the No. 2 indoor performer in Baylor history (13-5.25, set this season in Iowa City).
"It was a great night for all of them," Harbour added. "They love jumping out there. It's a great place, and I'm hoping that they'll have that kind of night at conference as well."
The Baylor pole vaulters will be joined by the rest of the team next weekend, Feb. 22-23, for the Big 12 Championships hosted by Texas Tech.
For continued updates on the Baylor Track & Field team, follow the team's social media accounts all season long: @BaylorTrack.
Players Mentioned
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Track & FieldFriday, May 22
Tuesday, May 19
Sunday, May 17
Sunday, May 17
