Clare Alum Staley Breaks CMU Pole Vaulting Record

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Clare alum and Central Michigan pole vaulter Kasey Staley competed in the NCAA East Preliminary Round in Jacksonville, Fla., on Thursday. She did not advance, but accomplished one of her goals by breaking the CMU program record for pole vaulting.

Staley entered the competition after coming in second place at her outdoor conference championship with a leap over the 4.01-meter vault, or 13 feet, 1 3/4 inches. The CMU program record was set in 2005 and tied in 2019 with a leap of 13 feet, 3 3/4 inches.

On Thursday, Staley leaped over the 4.07-meter vault, which is 13 feet, 4 1/4 inches, placing her at the top of the program’s record book.

Before competing in the tournament on Thursday, Staley said she was looking forward to the competition.

“(CMU’s) not a power five school, so you’re surrounded by these people from these giant schools and I’m just a kid from Central,” Staley said. “But it’s awesome. It’s good to be around just good competition. It really pushes you.”

Staley has multiple records throughout her pole vaulting career, as she still owns the MHSAA Division 3 state record with her leap of 12-4 in 2016. She was a state champion in 2016 and 2017 and a state runner-up in 2014 and 2015.