Brandon Richards Explained

Brandon Richards
Fullname:Brandon Richards
Birth Date:February 6, 1967
Sport:Track and Field
Event:Pole Vault
Show-Medals:yes

Brandon Richards (born February 6, 1967) is an American track and field athlete. He was the national high school record holder in the pole vault and a son of double Olympic Gold Medalist in the pole vault, Bob Richards.[1] [2] He is the third of four of Richards' sons who all excelled at the pole vault - Bob Jr. finished second in 1968 and Tom won the CIF California State Meet in the pole vault.[3]

Richards began vaulting at age five[4] and by age 18, he vaulted 18feet, which stood as the highest pole vault for a high schooler for 14 years.[5] [6] The record still stands as third best jump for a high schooler[7] and the best ever by a Californian.[8] Richards also set the Indoor record in the pole vault at 17feet,[9] [10] which only lasted a year before Pat Manson marginally improved upon it, but it still ranks as the second best ever.[11]

Richards' high school record jump was set at an All-comers track meet in Eugene, Oregon, not in high school competition.[12] He chose not to compete for his San Marcos High School[13] team during his senior year.[14] As a junior, Richards was the Texas state champion at Midway High School.[15] [16]

Richards' set his personal record five years later at 18feet. That mark is the Richards family record, but not in contention with the 19-foot vaulters in the Olympics. He ranks number 260 on the all-time list.[17] Richards attended the University of California, Los Angeles,[18] [19] where he is ranked as the #10 vaulter in school history.[20]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Faces In The Crowd. https://archive.today/20120717001003/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1121169/index.htm . 2012-07-17 . dead.
  2. Web site: USATF - Hall of Fame. usatf.org. 16 July 2016.
  3. Web site: California State Meet Results - 1915 to present . Hank Lawson . 2012-12-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141006092406/http://www.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/stateres.htm . 2014-10-06 . dead .
  4. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1985-06-17/sports/8502080638_1_brandon-richards-pole-vault-meet/2 Chicago Tribune June 17, 1985
  5. Web site: Texas . 2010-09-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090427043051/http://www.dyestat.com/9out/states/tx/index.htm . 2009-04-27 .
  6. Web site: Eshbach shatters vault mark - Lubbock Online - Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. lubbockonline.com. 16 July 2016.
  7. http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/lists/all_time/prepout_at_m.html Track and Field News
  8. Web site: All-Time Lists. April 13, 2012 . ESPN. 16 July 2016.
  9. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1320&dat=19850318&id=2aMRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lekDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5360,1012616 Gainesville Sun, March 18, 1985, P.33
  10. News: SPORTS NEWS BRIEFS; Richards Vaults To Record 17-6 . The New York Times . March 18, 1985.
  11. Web site: High School Pole Vault Records. Pole Vault Power.
  12. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-07-12-sp-8974-story.html Los Angeles Times
  13. Web site: John Uelses. March 7, 2012 . independent.com. 16 July 2016.
  14. Web site: The Rev. Bob Richards Won Two Olympic Golds: Now His Vaulting Ambition Is for Son Brandon : People.com. people.com. 16 July 2016.
  15. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-05-17-sp-8962-story.html Los Angeles Times
  16. Web site: UIL Boys Track & Field State Champions. https://archive.today/20120905042330/http://uil100.org/archives/athletics/track-field-event-height.php?event

    Pole+Vault&boys_girls=Boys

    . dead. 5 September 2012. uil100.org. 16 July 2016.
  17. http://hem.bredband.net/athletics/atb-m26.htm Al Time List
  18. News: Brandon Richards Signs With UCLA . Los Angeles Times . April 17, 1985.
  19. Web site: Brandon Richards Pictures - Getty Images. gettyimages.com. 16 July 2016.
  20. http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ucla/sports/m-track/auto_pdf/m-alltime-top10.pdf

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