Sophomore (2022)
Outdoor: Cleared a season best of 15-11 (4.85) to tie for fifth at John McDonnell Invitational … Competed in SEC Championships, had a no height at 16-4.75 (5.00) after passing 15-11 height.
Indoor: Tied for first place with season best clearance of 16-10.75 (5.15) at Razorback Invitational … Cleared same height of 16-10.75 to tie for fifth in SEC Championships … Placed third at Arkansas Invitational (15-9.25), fourth at Tyson Invitational (16-8.75), seventh at Arkansas Qualifier (16-8.75).
Freshman (2021)
Outdoor: Tied for 11th in pole vault at SEC Championships, clearing 16-2 3/4 (4.95) … Set season best of 16-7 1/2 (5.07) placing third at John McDonnell Invitational … Runner-up at Oregon’s Hayward Premiere (16-0 3/4 | 4.90) … Fifth in Florida’s Tom Jones Memorial (16-0 3/4 | 4.90) … Fourth at Arkansas Twilight (16-6 3/4 | 5.05).
Indoor: Seventh in pole vault at SEC Indoor with clearance of 16-6 3/4 (5.05) … Runner-up at Razorback Invitational (16-4 3/4 | 5.00) … Placed eighth twice, at Wooo Pig Classic (16-0 3/4 | 4.90) and Tyson Invitational (15-9 | 4.80).
High School
2020 graduate of Trinity Christian School in Texarkana, Arkansas … Coached by Russ Nelson … Six-time State champion in pole vault and two-time State champion in 300m hurdles … Finished as high-point scorer in 2019 outdoor State meet, competed in six events at AAA 1A State Championships … Established school records in pole vault, 110m hurdles and 300m hurdles … School claimed three State outdoor team titles (2017, 2018, 2019) … Set indoor career best vault of 17-2 ¾ as runner-up in 2019 Millrose Games … His 17-2 ¾ vault ranked fourth in the nation among HS vaulters and was the top junior mark … Cleared 16-6 to claim indoor 2019 State title, won outdoor title with a 16-0 … Runner-up at Arkansas Meet of Champions with outdoor best of 16-8 ¾ … Posted career best of 43.24 for State victory in 300 hurdles and ran 16.95 for third in 110 hurdles … Also finished second in long jump, fourth in 200 and seventh in 100 at State meet … Top sophomore in nation with a vault of 16-6 in 2018, indoors cleared 16-4 ¾ … Defended State outdoor title and placed second in Meet of Champions with vaults of 15-6 … Won 300 hurdles at State meet with 43.50, runner-up in 110 hurdles … As a freshman claimed indoor State title (14-6) and improved to 15-4 for outdoor title … Placed fourth in Meet of Champions (14-6) … Competes with Arkansas Vault Club, coached by Morry Sanders, in Norman, Arkansas … Also lettered one year in basketball and two years in cross country.
Best marks: 17-2 3/4 (PV indoors), 16-8 3/4 (PV outdoors), 43.24 (300H)
Personal
Rhett Thomas Nelson was born December 13, 2001 in Texarkana, Texas … Hometown is Texarkana, Arkansas … Son of Russell and Holly Nelson … Has two older siblings, Hannah and Halah … Father competed in track and field at Henderson … Planning to major in Business and Marketing … Ambition is to have success on and off the track … Favorite athlete is James Harden … Chose Arkansas for its history of success and because it’s home.
