Women’s pole vault has been a focal point for Republic track and field over the past few years, and two-time state champion Haven Lander was in the middle of it from the time she started vaulting. But even after Lander has moved on to compete for national championships at Pittsburg State University, the event is still garnering a lot of attention at Republic — even at the middle school level.
Two pole vaulters, seventh-grader Josalyn Weymuth and and eighth-grader Jaiden Gibbs have assaulted the record books this spring. Weymuth cleared 8’0″ to break the seventh-grade record, and Gibbs cleared 8’6″, tying the eighth grade mark.
Both records had been previously set by Lander.