Brandon Richards
Encyclopedia
Brandon Richards is an American Track and Field
athlete and a son of double Olympic Gold Medalist in the pole vault, Bob Richards
. He is the third of four of Richards' sons who all excelled at the pole vault--Bob Jr. finished second in 1968 and Tom won the CIF California State Meet
in the pole vault.
Richards began vaulting at age five and by age 18, he vaulted 18'2" (5.54m), which stood as the highest pole vault for a high schooler for 14 years. The record still stands as third best jump for a high schooler. Richards also set the Indoor record in the pole vault at 17'6" (5.33m), which only lasted a year before Pat Manson
marginally improved upon it, but it still ranks as the second best ever.
Richards' high school record jump was set at an All-comers track meet in Eugene, Oregon
, not in high school competition. He chose not to compete for his San Marcos High School team during his senior year. As a junior, Richards was the Texas state champion at Midway High School
.
Richards' set his personal record five years later at 18'4.5" (5.60m). That mark is the Richards family record, but not in contention with the 19 foot vaulters in the Olympics. He ranks number 260 on the all time list. Richards attended the University of California, Los Angeles
, where he is ranked as the #10 vaulter in school history.
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
athlete and a son of double Olympic Gold Medalist in the pole vault, Bob Richards
Bob Richards
The Reverend Robert Eugene Richards, known as Bob Richards , known as the "Vaulting Vicar" or the "Pole Vaulting Parson" in his competitive days, was a versatile athlete who made three Olympic teams in two events...
. He is the third of four of Richards' sons who all excelled at the pole vault--Bob Jr. finished second in 1968 and Tom won the CIF California State Meet
CIF California State Meet
The CIF California State Meet is the annual championship track and field meet for the California Interscholastic Federation. The meet was started in 1915 for boys and 1974 for girls. Every athlete in every high school in California has a direct qualification path that can reach the state meet...
in the pole vault.
Richards began vaulting at age five and by age 18, he vaulted 18'2" (5.54m), which stood as the highest pole vault for a high schooler for 14 years. The record still stands as third best jump for a high schooler. Richards also set the Indoor record in the pole vault at 17'6" (5.33m), which only lasted a year before Pat Manson
Pat Manson
Pat Manson is a retired American pole vaulter, best known for winning three gold medals at the Pan American Games in 1991, 1995 and 1999. He also finished sixth at the 1997 World Championships in Athletics in Athens. His personal best was 5.85 meters, achieved in September 1994 in...
marginally improved upon it, but it still ranks as the second best ever.
Richards' high school record jump was set at an All-comers track meet in Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
, not in high school competition. He chose not to compete for his San Marcos High School team during his senior year. As a junior, Richards was the Texas state champion at Midway High School
Midway High School
Midway High School is the only high school in the Midway Independent School District, which serves the Waco, Texas area. Although the school is located in southwestern Waco, most students live in the suburbs of Woodway and Hewitt....
.
Richards' set his personal record five years later at 18'4.5" (5.60m). That mark is the Richards family record, but not in contention with the 19 foot vaulters in the Olympics. He ranks number 260 on the all time list. Richards attended the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
, where he is ranked as the #10 vaulter in school history.