Stuart Sparks from Jenks wins Kansas Relays pole vault champion

Stuart Sparks, senior from Jenks High School, won the pole vault championship of the high school division at the 80th annual Kansas Relays held in Lawrence, Kansas. Sparks competed against 24 of the best high school pole-vaulters from around the Mid-west, including five state champions. Sparks cleared 15 feet, 6 inches to beat his closest competitor by a foot. In the process, he increased his state-leading height in the vault by six inches. Sparks barely missed his three attempts in clearing 16 feet.

Cooper Merrill, Blue Valley North-Overland Park, Kansas and Danny Berks from Lincoln, Nebraska finished in a tie for second. Chase Cooper of Smoky Hill, Colorado was fourth and Zach Steffen of Wichita, Kansas Bishop Carroll was fifth.