High School Sports Feature: Wes Chamberlain, Washington's best pole vaulter

For those of you who don't know, back in high school track and field was my sport. Well, mainly field. I was a pole vaulter and that will always be my favorite sport. Did pretty well, went to state twice. Although I'll be the first to admit I was no Brad Walker.

Today for our high school sports feature, we're going to showcase Wes Chamberlain of Ephrata High School.

Wes is the defending 2A State Champion in the pole vault. Many people laugh at 2A and smaller schools. Saying that winning state championships there don't count do to the size of the school. Well, I'd say Wes winning the 2A with not only the best vault in that level, but the best vault in the state is pretty great.

Last year as a junior he posted the top height of all vaulters in the state with a vault of 15 feet, 5.5 inches. He got that height on April 10th at an Invitational. At the actual state meet at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma, he posted a mark of 15 feet 5 inches. But that was good enough to set the meet record.

The previous mark of 15 feet 4 inches was set by Evan Whitehall of Cashmere in 2002.

And now it is Wes' senior year. Look for big things from this small school pole vaulter.

Epic Video: Brad Walker

Spokane native and University of Washington graduate Brad Walker qualified for the Beijing Olympics in the pole vault.

He finished third during the trials yesterday, not having his best performance. He cleared 18-6.5 feet.

But three weeks earlier he set the American Record at 19 feet 9 3/4 inches. Here is that vault.

Washington native sets new American Record in Pole Vault

It was quite a day for Washington natives in the professional sporting world today.

Today marked the Nike Prefontaine Classic, and 14,221 fans were in Eugene, Oregon to watch.

A number of meet records fell, but no one was more watched than Spokane native, Brad Walker.

Walker, a graduate of University high school in Spokane, and the University of Washington, cleared an American Record in the pole vault. He cleared 19 feet 9 3/4 inches.

After two attempts at the World Record of 20 feet 2 inches, he called it a day.

"I've never heard cheering like I heard at my second attempt at the WR. It startled me. It's overwhelming. But I'll take that any day of the week. It was great."

Walker will be back at Hayward Field on the University of Oregon campus in a few weeks for the Olympic Trials. The 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials will be held June 27-July 6.

Another Northwest native, Tommy Skipper of Sandy, Ore. and University of Oregon graduate, finished 6th in the pole vault at 17 feet 8 3/4 inches.

And as for another Washington athlete, Kasey Kahne of Enumclaw won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Race today at Pocono. It was his third win in the past four races. But only two count toward point standings, as his win at the All-Star race isn't a point qualifying event.

With the win Kahne moves up to 9th in the overall NASCAR standings, 365 points behind the leader.

Not too bad of a day for professional athletes from the Pacific Northwest.