Brandon Richards Explained
| Brandon Richards |
| Fullname: | Brandon Richards |
| Birth Date: | February 6, 1967 |
| Sport: | Track and Field |
| Event: | Pole Vault |
| Show-Medals: | yes |
Brandon Richards (born February 6, 1967) is an American track and field athlete. He was the national high school record holder in the pole vault and a son of double Olympic Gold Medalist in the pole vault, Bob Richards.[1] [2] He is the third of four of Richards' sons who all excelled at the pole vault - Bob Jr. finished second in 1968 and Tom won the CIF California State Meet in the pole vault.[3]
Richards began vaulting at age five[4] and by age 18, he vaulted 18feet, which stood as the highest pole vault for a high schooler for 14 years.[5] [6] The record still stood in 2005 as third-best jump for a high schooler[7] and the best ever by a Californian as of 2012.[8] Richards also set the Indoor record in the pole vault at 17feet,[9] [10] which only lasted a year before Pat Manson marginally improved upon it, but it still ranked as the third-best ever in 2007.[11]
Richards' high school record jump was set at an All-comers track meet in Eugene, Oregon, not in high school competition.[12] He chose not to compete for his San Marcos High School[13] team during his senior year.[14] As a junior, Richards was the Texas state champion at Midway High School.[15] [16]
Richards' set his personal record five years later at 18feet. That mark is the Richards family record, but not in contention with the 19-foot vaulters in the Olympics. He ranked number 260 on the all-time list in 2001.[17] Richards attended the University of California, Los Angeles,[18] [19] where he is ranked as the #10 vaulter in school history.[20]
External links
Notes and References
- News: Faces In The Crowd. https://archive.today/20120717001003/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1121169/index.htm . 2012-07-17 . dead.
- Web site: USATF - Hall of Fame. usatf.org. 16 July 2016.
- Web site: California State Meet Results - 1915 to present . Hank Lawson . 2012-12-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141006092406/http://www.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/stateres.htm . 2014-10-06 . dead .
- https://archive.today/20130119051434/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1985-06-17/sports/8502080638_1_brandon-richards-pole-vault-meet/2 Chicago Tribune
- Web site: Texas . 2010-09-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090427043051/http://www.dyestat.com/9out/states/tx/index.htm . 2009-04-27 .
- Web site: Eshbach shatters vault mark - Lubbock Online - Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. lubbockonline.com. 16 July 2016.
- Web site: HIGH SCHOOL BOY'S ALL-TIME TOP 10s. 15 November 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20130217104849/http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/lists/all_time/prepout_at_m.html . 2013-02-17 . Track and Field News
- Web site: All-Time Lists. April 13, 2012 . ESPN. 16 July 2016.
- Web site: Brandon Richards sets prep pole vault record. Gainesville Sun . March 18, 1985 . 33 .
- News: SPORTS NEWS BRIEFS; Richards Vaults To Record 17-6 . The New York Times . March 18, 1985.
- Web site: High School Pole Vault Records. High School Track 2007. Pole Vault Power. Jack. Shepard.
- https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-07-12-sp-8974-story.html Los Angeles Times
- Web site: John Uelses. March 7, 2012 . independent.com. 16 July 2016.
- Web site: The Rev. Bob Richards Won Two Olympic Golds: Now His Vaulting Ambition Is for Son Brandon : People.com. people.com. 16 July 2016.
- https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-05-17-sp-8962-story.html Los Angeles Times
- Web site: UIL Boys Track & Field State Champions. https://archive.today/20120905042330/http://uil100.org/archives/athletics/track-field-event-height.php?event
Pole+Vault&boys_girls=Boys
. dead. 5 September 2012. uil100.org. 16 July 2016.
- Web site: World men's all-time best pole vault. hem.bredband.net . 9 August 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20180911004046/http://hem.bredband.net/athletics/atb-m26.htm . 11 September 2018 . dead.
- News: Brandon Richards Signs With UCLA . Los Angeles Times . April 17, 1985.
- Web site: Brandon Richards Pictures - Getty Images. March 14, 2002 . gettyimages.com. 16 July 2016.
- Web site: ALL-TIME TOP-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20121112142609/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ucla/sports/m-track/auto_pdf/m-alltime-top10.pdf . November 12, 2012 .