Compton honored at Pole Vault Summit

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – In recognition of his success with the University of Arkansas women’s track and field team, assistant coach Bryan Compton was awarded the National Collegiate Coach of the Year by the USATF Pole Vault High Performance and Development Committee this past weekend at the National Pole Vault Summit in Reno, Nev. Compton is in his 20th season with the Razorbacks, working primarily with the team’s pole vaulters and throwers.

During the 2018 season, Compton coached Lexi Jacobus to, among many highlights, the national title at the 2018 NCAA Indoor Championships, a runner-up finish at the 2018 Outdoor Championships, an outdoor Southeastern Conference title, and a ninth-place finish at the USATF Championships.

Overall, the Razorbacks’ vaulters collected five first-team All-American honors last year between Jacobus, Hoggard, and Desiree Freier, who also turned in a fifth-place finish at the 2018 indoor championships that saw Arkansas rack up 22-points en route to the team’s runner-up finish. During his career at Arkansas, Compton has seen his vaulters collect 58 All-America selections.

Through the first two meets of the 2019 season, Jacobus has the No. 1 mark in the NCAA with her clearance of 4.49m (14-8.75) at the Arkansas Invitational, but cleared 4.66m (15-3.50) this past weekend at the Pole Vault Summit to equal her indoor career best, tie Sandi Morris’ school record mark and finish third in the competition behind only World and Olympic champion Katerina Stefanidi and US indoor champion Katie Nageotte.

Arkansas returns to action Jan. 25-26 with the Razorback Invitational at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville. For more information on Arkansas track and field including in-meet updates, follow @RazorbackTF on Twitter.