State pole vault record ‘came together perfectly’ for Chase McGee

The 17 feet, 5 inches written on Chase McGee’s spikes is scuffed and faded now, but the Camas High senior and newest pole vault state record holder plans to write a new personal-best pole vault mark he’s chasing.

After all, he rewrote the Washington high school track and field record books Tuesday by taking down the state’s oldest record. It took 56 years for high school pole vault sensation Casey Carrigan’s state record of 17-4.75 to fall, and McGee did so with a 9-inch personal-best to break Carrigan’s mark by one-quarter of an inch.

At 17-5, no one in state history has cleared a higher mark than McGee.

“Everything just came together perfectly,” he said Wednesday. “It was a pretty darn, good day.”

Forgive McGee that he didn’t get any academic homework done before Camas’ home dual meet with Union; his attention was on watching footage of prior vaults. Or afterward, when he was busy making calls to coaches, then going for burgers and milkshakes with family to celebrate the achievement.

He felt something special brewing for Tuesday, because it had been brewing for weeks.

McGee continued where he left off last spring when he set a new personal-best of 16-6 to win the Class 4A state title. This season, McGee won the Oregon Relays for a second time (16-4.25), then cleared 16-8 in consecutive meets, including the prestigious Arcadia (Calif.) Invitational on April 12.

What was different about Tuesday for McGee that led to a 9-inch personal best, that elusive 17-foot plateau and more? Progress had been building, he said, plus Tuesday’s weather made for ideal conditions: sunshine, little wind, and big support at a mid-week dual meet.

He wouldn’t have it any other way, he said.

“I felt pretty confident going into it,” McGee said.

Tuesday, he cleared 15-6, 16-3, and 17-1. Then, came the 17-5 that’s plastered around his bedroom and written on his spikes.

He cleared it on his first attempt.

“It was actually amazing,” McGee said. “I think I hit it just barely with my chest and chin, but I was just looking (at the bar) and I hear everyone cheering.”

McGee has done his homework on Carrigan, the former longtime state record holder. Carrigan’s jump from 1969 set a national high school record at a time when the world record was 17-10.50. A year earlier, Carrigan, from Orting in Pierce County, made the 1968 Olympic team at age 17 following his third of four Class A pole vault state titles.

McGee also became the fourth athlete in state history to hit the 17-foot plateau, according to state track and field historian Scott Spruill. After McGee and Carrigan is Tyson Byers of University (17-1, 2002) and Eastlake’s Bowman Starr in 2019 (17-0). All four have state titles to their name.

It’s been a monumental high school track and field season in Washington. McGee’s latest mark ranks third nationally and is the second state record to fall in recent weeks. Mead’s Simon Roselli set a new discus record (218-7) and in February, Mercer Island’s Owen Powell became the state’s first athlete to run the mile in under 4 minutes (3:56.66).

Friday, McGee competes at the 25th annual Nike/Jesuit Twilight in Portland as the final big-meet invitational for Camas before the 4A/3A district meet May 9-10 at McKenzie Stadium.

What’s McGee chasing now with six weeks left in the high school track and field season?

Check his spikes.

“I’m thinking 17-8 or 18 (feet),” he said, “but we’ll see. I think something big might come after this one.”