SEATTLE – Husky Associate Head Coach Toby Stevenson has been a part of the only two 19-foot pole vault makes in the 25-year history of the Dempsey Indoor. Back in 2004, Stevenson, an Olympic medalist, set the facility record with a make of 19-0 3/4. Today, one of his proteges, Jimmy Rhoads, joined him in the 19-foot club, and broke his 22-year-old record with a make of 19-1 at the UW Preview.
Rhoads, in his first year as a Husky after earning All-America honors at Penn, zoomed to the No. 1 spot in the NCAA while also breaking the long-standing UW School Record held by Husky Hall of Famer and former American Record-holder Brad Walker (19-0 1/4). It also broke the Big Ten Conference record and ranks Rhoads at No. 11 in NCAA history indoors.
It’s been all big bars so far in his two meets as a Dawg. Rhoads initially took the NCAA lead back in December when he made 18-8 3/4 to win the Spokane Invitational on Dec. 13. One month later and in his Dempsey home debut, he was even better…