He cleared 18' 7.5" to beat Bill Payne's mark from 28 years ago by nearly three inches!

Pole Vault U. Open for business again.

It is a bit too easy to breeze past this achievement along the way to other, more pressing seasonal sports, and particularly when it comes almost at the beginning of his freshman season and was in a way, expected. But other than Mondo Duplantis, who qualifies as a track and field unicorn, Baylor may have the finest age-related pole vaulter in the country, if not the world. He may well clear 19' or higher this year; his future as one of the nation's finest vaulters seems to be assured and we get to coat tail that for however many years until he becomes a professional.

Congratulations to young Mr. Lightfoot and his coaches. This was a monumental advancement in his steady pace up the ladder of vaulting excellence in collegiate ranks.