State Boys Track and Field: Barrick breaks state pole vault record in thrilling fashion

YAKIMA — His first attempt just clipped the bar. His second jump was a flat out miss.

Everything that Onalaska High School pole vaulter Luke Barrick worked for came down to one final chance at clearing 15 feet, 7 inches on Friday afternoon. The height was an opportunity to reset the school, classification and state record books.

“Visualizing how great it would feel to have a state record,” Barrick said. “I thought about a takeoff. I picked up my pole, leaned back and ripped it. I had a dream.”

Welcome to reality, kid.

Barrick cleared the 15-7 bar that broke the previous 2B record of 15-5 set by Kalama’s Tucker Wetmore in 2018 on the second day of the 1B/2B/1A state championships at Zaepfel Stadium on the campus of Eisenhower High School.

Once Barrick landed on the mat and saw the bar remain in its place, the celebration ensued. He ran around screaming with his hands in the air, then the emotions of what occurred kicked in.

He shared a teary-eyed embrace with his coach and standout pole vaulter herself, Carla Hoppie. Prior to having three chances at 16-1, he went and hugged family and friends outside the track.

Not a moment went by where he wasn’t smiling, even through the tears.

“It is the proudest moment I’ve had in my whole life," Barrick stated. “This drives me to win it even more.”

The kicker? He only practiced the bar at 15-7 maybe once.

Barrick’s plan – from workouts to nutrition to sleep – is one he follows to a tee and never wavers from. He waited and waited until it was 14 feet even for his first attempt, a clearance in one go.

“With all the practice and training I’ve had, all that is how I got here today,” Barrick said.

In a one-versus-one showdown with Colfax’s Zachary Cooper, it came down to the wire.

Cooper cleared his last chance at 14-6 to move the bar to 14-9. Both missed their first two attempts before Barrick soared over to keep his day going. Cooper hit the bar and ended up with a runner-up spot.

Barrick immediately wanted to go for the record.

“It is very possible, but it is going to take more work to be consistent,” he said. “I had a super close attempt at 15-7 (at districts). It’s right there, but let’s wait at state.”

He thought about where he wanted the height to go next after the dramatics settled down. He raised it to 16-1 and missed all three attempts. Still, he left with an overwhelming sense of pride.

One year ago, Barrick was more than satisfied with a state appearance and a fourth place finish at 11-3. A week ago was the first time he ever cleared 15 feet at the district championships.

His dreams are even higher than any pole vault height.

“Maybe the Olympics qualify for some crazy meets,” Barrick said. “I just want to try my hardest to get into a good college.”

Rainier’s Josh Meldrum also brought home a state title in the 2B long jump, a year after placing third in the event, with a top leap of 21-08.25. The 2024 state title holder in the 100-meter dash missed the finals this year, placing outside the top-eight.

His friends helped him realize what he still could accomplish one day later.

“They were lifting me up,” Meldrum said. “I was gonna have fun with this one instead of taking it so seriously. That’s how life works, you gotta move on.”

It’s been an up-and-down season for the Mountaineers senior. He battled through sickness, a foot ailment caused by dropping a weight lifting plate on it and needing rest to recover from the grind of playoff football and basketball seasons.

Prior to Friday, Meldrum only had five registered finishes in the long jump under his belt.

“I knew I could get third or fourth, but every day, I worked on it,” he said. “Rest is a big part of performing well. That helped a lot.”

After the first three jumps in the second flight saw Meldrum atop the leaderboard. He extended his cushion to six inches after the fifth leap. He was far from calm seeing St. George’s Braydon Bayless, Reardan’s Evan Krupke and Goldendale’s Matthew Gray still with one jump left.

Rainier head coach Rob Henry would give a thumbs up after each mark that was short of Meldrum’s.

“It is state track, anything can happen,” Meldrum said. “I sat in the tent and just hoped don’t out-jump me, don’t out-jump me. I knew it was gonna be a battle.”

Several hugs were abound after the win was sealed. Meldrum’s career still has the 400 relay on Saturday.

“If we win the (400 relay), that’s the cherry on top,” he said.

Also in 2B, Onalaska’s throwing trio of Ethan Thayer, Justice Werner and Morgan Allen placed second, third and fifth, respectively in the shot put. Thayer – a sophomore – uncorked a throw of 55-06.75 on his last attempt for three-foot PR.

Werner also hit a new lifetime best with a toss of 52-08.50. Allen’s best throw came on his final throw in the prelims.

“Very proud,” Thayer said. “I had the adrenaline going. Just focused, last second exploded. Come to state, I was way more confident and I did my best.”

Oakville’s Lewis Koser, in his first year doing shot put, heaved a throw of 46-08.50 on his first attempt that held on for second place in the 1B event. He broke his previous PR by over two feet.

“I just did it because I needed something else to do other than discus,” Koser said. “I did the glide mostly and that’s a lot different.”

Mossyrock’s Carson Dewallie (high jump), Morton-White Pass’ Mathew Parvin (long jump) and Napavine’s Keldy Hendricks (shot put) all left with a medal.