Olivia Lueking Jumps 14-1 Pole Vault TX No. 2 All-Time

Olivia Lueking competes during the summer of 2020 at the Mac Vault Academy HS Championships


Clear Creek senior Olivia Lueking has been putting in some work and it has showed so far this 2021 outdoor track and field season. This afternoon, she jumped a Texas state all-time in season best and US No. 1 mark of 14-1 to win the Clear Lake Invitational. 

The University of Oklahoma signee first went 13-10 for a PR and then had the 14-1 all-time best jump to follow that up. The jump was so good, she feels she had the hip height to jump 14-10.

Despite losing most of the 2020 school season and although the 2021 season has been sporadic with weather related meet cancellations, Lueking has been on fire. Prior to today's big performances, she had a 13-1 performance on February 9th at the Pearland Invitational. After a couple of weeks, Lueking backed that up with a 13-0 on February 25-25 at the St. Thomas Eagle Relays.

Olivia Lueking's 14-1 pole vault clearance

Luekin'gs 14-1 performance is the best "in school season" jump ever by a Texas high schooler, but the second best jump all-time. That is the beginning of some confusing record keeping.

While, this is the best jump in season ever, it is still not a state record, still the second best jump ever and yet, still even more confusing.

To be a UIL state record, marks have to be performed at the UIL state meet. The UIL state record of 13-9 is shared by Desiree Freier in 2013 and Nastassja Campbell in 2018.

The all-time best mark is 14-7.25 by Freier at the 2014 US U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon. That mark was after Freier graduated high school, but before she enrolled in college.

NameHeightSchoolYear
Desiree Freier14-7.25Justin Northwest2014
Olivia Lueking14-1Clear Creek2021
Shade Weygandt14-00Mansfield2009
Annie Rhodes14-00Annie Rhodes2013
Nastassja Campbell14-00New Caney2018
Mackenzie Hayward14-00Lewisville Marcus2018
Lakan Taylor13-11Fort Worth Boswell2013
Meagan Gray13-9Buda Hays2015
Riley Floerke13-9Gregory-Portland2018
Kaitlin Petrillose13-9Round Rock McNeil2011

According to Stuart Kantor, Texas Track and Field Coaches Association (TTFCA) Executive Director, "organizations like the SPC, TAPPS, and the UIL only count records performed at their state meet events. Associations like the TTFCA count records post school season like the summer and post graduation, all of the way prior to enrolling into college. It depends on the organization and what their intent behind the record keeping is."

Lueking said, "you can't PR at every meet, but if you get consistent at your PR bar the next PR will come." As for her coach, the legendary 1980 Olympian and former Canadian pole vault record holder Glenn Colivas, his advice is simple and he says vaulters under stand this, "run fast and plant high, stay positive and get negative."

Despite the confusing record keeping conundrum, one thing is for sure, this is the best jump ever by a Texas girl during the school season and Lueking is no doubt on fire, oh, and the bars appear to be coming.

And as Kantor said, "14-1, that's an amazing jump!"