AKRON, Ohio – With his school-record breaking clearance at the Texas Relays last weekend, University of Akron freshman Shawn Barber added two more highlights to what has already been a phenomenal freshman campaign.
With a top jump of 18-08.75 (5.70m) last Friday night in Austin, Texas, Barber became Canada’s all-time national pole vault record holder for all age groups and achieved the “A” standard necessary to compete at this August’s IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Russia.
Barber, who is from Kingwood, Texas, has dual citizenship with Canada. His father and Canadian native, George Barber was a pole vaulter for the Canadian National Team in the 1980s.
The previous Canadian pole vault record holder was Doug Wood, who went 18-06.50 (5.65m), in 1992. Wood represented Canada in the pole vault at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.
With an “A” standard mark, Barber is all but assured to represent the Canadian team in Moscow. If he is able to do so, he will be the first UA athlete to achieve the prestigious feat.
Barber, the national high school pole vault record holder, finished fifth at the NCAA Indoor Championships last month and was named to the USTFCCCA All-America First Team. He is the Zips’ school record holder for indoor and outdoor and captured his first Mid-American Conference pole vault championship in February.
Barber and the rest of the Zips will open their home schedule this weekend with the Northeast Ohio Quad at Lee R. Jackson Track & Field Complex. The annual meet will begin with the hammer throw Friday at 3:30 p.m. A full slate of running and field events are scheduled for Saturday, starting at 11 a.m.
From: http://gozips.com/sports/track/2012-13/releases/20130401prpuv5
