By: CAMERON ASHFORD
Staff Writer
Over the last couple of years, under the outstanding coaching of Chris Ashford, the El Diamante Pole Vault Program has reached statistical levels beyond previous years. High school track is specifically special for offering the wonderful jumping event of the Pole Vault. With the introduction of pole vault in high school, coaches training athletes competing in the vault have to be extremely skilled and heavily qualified for the position. Years ago coach Chris Ashford had shown very excellent results with his male and female vaulters here at El Diamante. Due to personal complications, coach Ashford had to step down for a while. During the time period in which he was not present, El Diamante Pole Vault statistics were down greatly. This all changed about three years ago when he returned to coach vault for the 2019-2020 season. Because of the introduction to COVID-19, he was only able to have his athletes compete in three meets that season. Within these three meets, coach Ashford topped the Freshmen record, entered a varsity vaulter into the school’s all-time top 20, and put El Diamante’s vault team back on the boards. For the 2020-2021 track season, El Diamante track experienced a full season. With this full season, the pole vault team thrived even more. For the boys, Mason Lalanne acquired a silver medal in WYL, Landon Hulsey acquired a bronze medal at WYL, four boys made it to the school’s all-time top 20 for vault, Mason Lalanne made it to the top 6 for pole vault in the school’s history, 4 boys made it to West Coast Relays, 4 boys made it to Area, Landon Hulsey made it to Valley as a Junior, multiple invitationals were dominated by boys vault, etc. For girls pole vault, 2 girls dominated invitationals endlessly, Ainsley Ruby and Jada Malone made it to WYL, Jada Malone placed 2nd in WYL, 2 girls made it to the Area Meet, one girl made it to the Valley Championships, 2 girls acquired a spot in the school’s top 20 for Female Pole Vault, and Jada Malone made it to the school’s top 4 all-time best female vaulters. All of these amazing accomplishments were acquired by these vaulters in just a couple seasons. Almost all of these vaulters are still vaulting for El Diamante today and continue to fly higher and higher every season. This coming track season definitely looks to the sky, because these vaulters were born to fly!