Chadron State College senior Skyler Hoopes raised his school record in the pole vault indoors by two inches Friday when he cleared 15 feet, 11 inches to win the event during the Myrle Hanson Memorial Track and Field Meet at Black Hills State in Spearfish. Athletes from a half dozen schools were entered.
Hoopes, who graduated from Niobrara County High at Lusk, cleared 15-11, or 4.85 meters, with room to spare, but he didn’t quite make it over the next height that was about four inches higher. It would have made him the first CSC vaulter, either indoors or outdoors, to exceed 16 feet.
Hoopes set both the Chadron State indoor record of 15-9 and the outdoor record of 15-11 ¾ last year. His mark Friday is a new Donald Young Center record at Black Hills.
Another Chadron State vaulter, Angelique Urenda, was second in the women’s competition by going 10-11 ¾. That was the same height Haley Horob of Black Hills State cleared to win first place because she had fewer misses.
Also for the Eagles, Tory Snyder, went over 10 feet for the first time to place fifth.
While none of the CSC track athletes entered the meet, several of the Eagles’ throwers also competed for the Eagles, who were opening the 2016 portion of their schedule.
They did particularly well in the weight throw. Sophomore Blake Edwards won the men’s competition at 53- ¼, while teammates Jesse Bleidt, Frantzlee LaCrete and Cory Martens finished fourth through sixth, respectively. Both LaCrete and Martens threw more than 49 feet for the first in their careers.
David Aldridge was third and Martens sixth in the men’s shot put.
Chadron State senior Mel Herl, who is redshirting this season, competed unattached and had career-best throws of 61-11 while winning the women’s weight throw and 47-1 ½ while placing second in the shot.
Already the school record-holder and an All-American in the discus, Herl is hoping that by improving her skills while working out this season, that she can have an even better final season in 2017,
Junior Kerri Ruff was third in the weight throw with her career-best of 51-4 ¼. She also was sixth in the shot put. CSC sophomore Ashlyn Hanson was fourth in the weight throw.
Nearly all the Eagles will return to Black Hills State for another meet on Saturday.
From: http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/communities/chadron/sports/chadron-state/csc-s-skyler-hoopes-raises-his-pole-vault-record/article_292cbcde-bef5-11e5-a139-1bca1857600c.html
