the #1-ranked high school pole vaulter in the nation is senior Andrew Irwin, who just happens to be from an all-White town in Arkansaswith a population of less than1,000 people: Mount Ida.
here's a complimentary profile on how Andrew
is calm under pressure. he holds every pole vault record in Arkansas.
[tube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11hktDitppI[/tube]
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it was a slow year for Arkansas high school sprinting, with the fastest time of the year in the 100-meters only a 10.71 (in the Meet of Champs). i wonder if it is a coincidence that there were also fewer White sprinters amongst the elite short sprints this year?
* by the way, the kid who ran a 10.71 (Sam Bass from Watson Chapel high school) received a scholarship to play college football despite being just 5-foot-8 and weighing 130-pounds.
the top White 100-meter athlete is Ethan Bly, a sophomore from Heber Springs. he was the 4A State Champion in the 100-meters with a time of 11.01. he also took second at the State Meet in the 400 and followed it up with a 4th-place finishin the 200, despite injuring his hamstring during the 400.
he was unable to perform at the Meet of Champs where his times likely would've been faster (running as he would've against the fastest kids in the state), but he has a bright future considering (if my numbers are correct) that only 4 runners in the state had faster times on the year than he did after the state championship meets. and he's just a sophomore.
Ethan Bly - Heber Springs sophomore
