Pole vaulters take to the streets

MEEKER | Three Meeker High School pole vaulters competed in the first-ever Crested Butte Street Vault last weekend and one of them won his division.

The Meeker track team practices twice a week during the summer and pole vaulting state qualifiers Cooper Main and Colby Clatterbaugh, along with Aspen Merrifield, all vaulted in Crested Butte, where Main won his division last weekend.

“It was a good experience,” Meeker head track coach John Strate said. “They used an elevated runway and vaulted right on Elk Avenue in downtown Crested Butte.”

Strate said he traveled with Main and Merrifield and picked up Clatterbaugh in Gunnison, where he was wrestling, on their way to Crested Butte.

“Colby vaulted in his wrestling singlet,” State said.

The event featured more than 60 vaulters, including an Olympian, divided into several divisions and Main won his division.

Main made the podium at the 2019 Colorado State Track and Field Championships by placing ninth.

Coach Strate said none of the three had personal bests in the Street Vault but Main won his division by clearing 11 feet 8 inches, while Clatterbaugh cleared 11-2 and Merrifield cleared 6-2.

The event was sponsored by Western Colorado University, Strate’s alma mater.

“It was a fun event and hopefully keeps the kids motivated and coming to practice,” Strate said.

By BOBBY GUTIERREZ | Special to the Herald Times