Hokie ClubTrack & field commit Deakin Volz set an NFHS national high school indoor record in the pole vault this past weekend with a jump of 17'10.5" (5.45m) at a meet in Bloomington, Ind. The record was short lived as it was raised another quarter of an inch about three hours later at a meet in Albuquerque, N.M., but it still represents a tremendous accomplishment reached early in Volz's senior campaign.
Volz's prior best of 17'3" was eclipsed twice during the meet, with a clear at 17'7" prior to his record jump of 17'10'5". Delays in measuring and verifying the record prevented any higher attempts that day. Although it was a national high school record, it still keeps Deakin at the number three spot in a family that has a tremendous pole vault tradition, behind older brother Drew Volz (18'1") and father Dave Volz (19'1"). Dave Volz finished fifth at the 1992 Olympic games in Barcelona, Spain and currently coaches both Drew and Deakin.
"My phone rang just as Chris Uhle attempted an indoor school record of 18'3" at a meet here in Blacksburg. Chris was close but missed and then I called Deakin back and we learned about his performance. The whole squad was really excited to hear he had set the record," explained Bob Philips, the pole vault coach at Virginia Tech.
Volz will arrive in Blacksburg this coming Fall and plans to study business information technology.