Sam Kendricks

Sam Kendricks (born September 7, 1992) is an American pole vaulter. He is a three-time indoor and six-time outdoor national champion (2014–2019), the 2016 Olympics bronze medalist,[3] and the 2017 World Champion. In 2019, Kendricks set the American pole vault record at 6.06 m,[4][5] tying him with Steve Hooker for fourth all time. He later won the gold medal at the World Championships in Doha.

Sam Kendricks
Kendricks at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
Born (1992-09-07) September 7, 1992
Oxford, Mississippi, United States
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)[1]
Weight175 lb (79 kg)[2]
Sport
CountryUnited States
SportTrack and field
Event(s)Pole vault
College teamUniversity of Mississippi
ClubNike
US Army
UST-ESSX
Turned pro2014
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)Pole vault:
  • 5.90 m (19 ft 4 1⁄4 in) indoor (2016)
  • 6.06 m (19 ft 10 1⁄2 in) outdoor (2019)
Medal record
Olympic Games
2016 Rio de JaneiroPole vault
World Championships
2017 LondonPole vault
2019 DohaPole vault
World Indoor Championships
2016 PortlandPole vault
2018 BirminghamPole vault
Summer Universiade
2013 KazanPole vault
Continental Cup
2018 OstravaPole vault

Kendricks is a first lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve.

Prep

Kendricks vaulted for Oxford High School in Oxford, Mississippi leading his team to the 2009 MHSAA 5A State Championship. He vaulted 17 ft 0 in (5.18 m) to set the state record. He won the state meet outdoors in 2010 and 2011, and indoors in 2011. He also lettered in cross country and soccer. In 2011, he was named the Gatorade boys' high school track and field athlete of the year for Mississippi.[6]

NCAA

While vaulting for the University of Mississippi, Kendricks won the 2013 and 2014 NCAA Championships.[6] He broke both Ole Miss Rebels pole vault records as a freshman.[7] Kendricks announced that he would be turning pro in 2014.[8]

Professional

2015

Kendricks set his personal best of 5.86 m (19 ft 2 1⁄2 in) at the indoor 2015 Reno Pole Vault Summit. Kendrick uses a hand hold at 15 ft 5 in (4.69 m) and from his performance in Reno claims the "Push-off" World Record at 4 ft 6 in (1.37 m).[9][10] He won the men's pole vault at 2015 US Outdoor Championships in 5.75 m (18 ft 10 1⁄4 in).[11] He won the prelims of the 2015 World Championships in Athletics – Men's pole vault and finished 9th in 5.65 m (18 ft 6 1⁄4 in).

2016

After setting a personal best outdoors at the IAAF World Challenge in Beijing, at 5.92 m (19 ft 5 in) Kendricks won the US Olympic Trials at 5.91 m (19 ft 4 1⁄2 in). At the 2016 Summer Olympics, he won the bronze medal.[12] Kendricks also garnered attention during the Olympics when he stopped mid run during a pole vault attempt to stand at attention while "The Star Spangled Banner" was played.[13]

2017
Kendricks celebrates a title of the 2017 World Champion in London, UK.

On June 24, 2017, Kendricks became the 22nd person to join the six meters club by vaulting exactly 6.00 m (19 ft 8 in) while winning the 2017 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, California.

On December 29, 2017, Kendricks married Leanne Zimmer in Oxford, MS.

2019

On July 27, 2019, Kendricks set the American pole vault record by jumping 6.06 m.[4][5]

Competition record
YearCompetitionVenuePositionNotes
Representing  United States
2015 World Championships Beijing, China 9th 5.65
2016 World Indoor Championships Portland, Oregon 2nd 5.80
Summer Olympics Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 3rd 5.85
2017 World Championships London, United Kingdom 1st 5.95
DécaNation Angers, France 1st 5.75
2018 World Indoor Championships Birmingham, United Kingdom 2nd 5.85
2019 World Championships Doha, Qatar 1st 5.97

See also

References
  1. Sam Kendricks Archived August 26, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. rio2016.com
  2. https://www.teamusa.org/usa-track-and-field/athletes/Sam-Kendricks
  3. "Men Pole Vault SR". flashresults.com. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  4. Shinn, Peggy (July 27, 2019). "Sam Kendricks Sets American Record And Wins Record Sixth Consecutive Pole Vault National Title". Team USA. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  5. "Kendricks tops 6.06m in Des Moines| News | iaaf.org". www.iaaf.org. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  6. Sam Kendricks Bio – Ole Miss Rebels Official Athletic Site Ole Miss Rebels Official Athletic Site – Track & Field. Olemisssports.com. Retrieved on August 17, 2016.
  7. Oxford Citizen interview with Sam in 2014. Oxfordcitizen.com (May 23, 2014). Retrieved on August 17, 2016.
  8. Sam announced his professional ambitions in 2014 with Nike. Clarionledger.com (September 17, 2014). Retrieved on August 17, 2016.
  9. Pole Vaulting Poles by UST Essx | Carbon Fiber Recoil | Track & Field Equipment | Team Kendricks. Ust-essx.com (January 19, 2015). Retrieved on August 17, 2016.
  10. Sam Kendricks Pole Vault Summit 2015. VAULTER Magazine (January 19, 2015). Retrieved on August 17, 2016.
  11. USATF Championships – 6/25/2015 to 6/28/2015 Hayward Field, Eugene, Ore. usatf.org
  12. "Sam Kendricks wins 3rd place in Men's Pole Vault". Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  13. Stump, Scott. "US pole vaulter Sam Kendricks stops mid-stride to stand at attention for national anthem". Today News. NBC. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
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