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Prep pole vaulter sets new national record in first attempt at Texas Relays

Not quite out of the Panhandle, but into the Freier, for sure.

The national prep pole vault record now rests solely in the hands of Justin (Texas) Northwest High senior Desiree Freier. Only 5 feet tall, the University of Arkansas commit was scary good at the Texas Relays in Austin's Mike A. Myers Stadium over the weekend. Her effort of 14 feet, 3.25 inches on her first attempt broke New Iberia (La.) product Morgan LeLeux's 3-year-old mark of 14-2.75.

“It’s pretty exciting," Freier told The Dallas Morning News. "My goal was to come out here and break the national record,” Freier said. “I was very fortunate to do it. This is one of my favorite places to jump. The crowd is amazing here. They’re always cheering you on, and it’s a blast.”

 

The competition was merely Freier's second of the spring. She eclipsed 14 feet in a tune-up meet only a few days earlier. The Texas Relays mark the first major event of the state's outdoor season, so she has ample opportunities to continue setting new standards. For reference sake, the winning women's attempt at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships last spring was 14-7.25.

Of course, Freier already owned the Texas prep outdoor record after vaulting 13-9 as a junior at the state meet last spring. She also broke the national indoor record earlier this month, eclipsing 14-2.75 at New York City's New Balance Nationals on March 14. In other words, Freier cemented herself as the unquestionable queen of prep pole vaulting in the span of two weeks, and she's only getting started.

Freier told DyeStat.com she's targeting 14-9 and then 15-1 as her goals for this season. By Prep Rally's count, that would mean Desiree Freier would be attmpting to clear three of herself.