Junior Eli Beachy broke the school record in the pole vault at the Ole Qualifier. (Photo courtesy of Nathan Lodermeier)
Junior Eli Beachy broke the school record in the pole vault at the Ole Qualifier. (Photo courtesy of Nathan Lodermeier)

New Pole Vault Record Is Just Beachy

NORTHFIELD, Minn. (3/03/17)--- Eli Beachy waited until the final indoor meet of the season to make his biggest mark of the year. The Cobber junior cleared 15-01.50 in the pole vault at the Ole Qualifier at St. Olaf to break the school record in the event.

Beachy battled his way at the old school record of 15-00.25 set back in 2013 the entire season. He narrowly missed breaking the record on several occasions throughout the year and his perseverance finally paid off in Northfield.

Beachy cleared two lower heights during the meet before the bar was set at 15-01.50. He missed the record on his first vault but then made history on the very next attempt as he sailed over the bar on the way up and hit the bar on the way down but the bar stayed on the standards and he was credited with the new school record.

Beachy becomes the fifth different Concordia athlete to break a school record this season and the five different Cobbers managed to break school records on seven different occasions.   

Beachy tried his hand at 15-07.25 which was the next height set in the event but missed all three attempts at the new mark.

Beachy tied for the top height in the event at the meet but finished third due to a miss at 14-07.50 and then his first miss at the school record height.

Concordia had a smattering of other athletes compete which was designed to put up marks to qualify for the NCAA National Meet.

Senior Eddie Clifton placed fifth in the pole vault as he was also trying to grab the new school record. He cleared 14-07.50 and then missed three times at 15-01.50.

Sophomore David Supinski ran in the 800 meters but couldn't better his season best time. He finished third with a mark of 2:07.14.

Senior Matthew Lillehaugen came up short in his bid for the school record in the mile. He clocked a 4:25.10 and finished in fifth place.

Freshman Willie Julkes III tried to better his conference-winning time in the 60-meter hurdles but was a bit off and ran an 8.74.

WHAT'S NEXT: Senior Jackson Schepp will be the lone Cobber representative at the NCAA Indoor National Meet. He qualified with the sixth best score in the heptathlon and will try for his first All-American honor on Mar. 10-11 at North Central College in Naperville, Ill.