Event Info

2026 POLE VAULT CHAMPIONSHIPS

Friday + Saturday, June 26th-27th 2026
2200 East Capitol Street NE Washington D.C.

Hosted by: DC Vault and the National Pole Vault Association

WEATHER PLAN

All divisions proceed as scheduled on Saturday. Start times will remain the same.

In the event a section is cancelled due to weather, that section will be moved to the end of the order - tentatively beginning after the last session originally scheduled on Saturday.

If one or more divisions cannot be contested on Saturday, they will be moved to Sunday, June 28th and start times will be posted prior to 10pm on June 27th. Sunday divisions will be contested in the originally scheduled order.

Event Information

FRIDAY – Jun 26th

STATE CHAMPIONS DIVISION

HIGH SCHOOL STATE CHAMPIONS ONLY (Public and Private School Champions)!

Open only to athletes who placed 1st at a USA 2026 indoor or outdoor High School State Championship (All Class Divisions, to include Public and Private Schools State Champions) in any State (verification required).

The State Champions Division is an opportunity for the best of the best to compete head-to-head!

*Athletes who compete in the State Champions Division on Friday, June 26th may also register to compete in High School Divisions or Emerging Elite Divisions on Saturday, June 27th. Register online separately for each division.

Boy’s State Champions Division

• o Any male athlete who placed 1st at an indoor or outdoor High School State Championship in 2026

• o Will be required to submit online source to verify results

• o 4.00m (13’1.5”) starting height

• o 15cm progressions

Girl’s State Champions Division

• o Any female athlete who placed 1st at an indoor or outdoor High School State Championship in 2026

• o Will be required to submit online source to verify results

• o 3.00m (9’11”) starting height

• o 15cm progressions

NOTE: Starting heights may be adjusted down or up based on entry marks of competitors. Final decision will be made after registration has closed.

SATURDAY – Jun 27th

OPEN DIVISION INFORMATION

ELEMENTARY + MIDDLE SCHOOL + HIGH SCHOOL + OPEN-ADULT

Elementary School Division

• o Any athlete age 7-11 who attended 5th grade and under during Spring of 2026

• o 1.55m starting height (5’1”)

• o Combined Division (boys and girls scored separately)

Middle School Division

• o Any athlete age 11-14 who attended grades 6-8 during Spring of 2026

• o 1.55m starting height (5’1”)

• o Combined Division (boys and girls scored separately)

High School Division

• o Any athlete age 14-18 who attended grades 9-12 in Spring of 2026

• o 1.85m (6’1”) starting height for girls

• o 2.45m (8’) starting height for boys Division II (PR under 12’6”)

• o 3.35 (11’) starting height for boys Division I (PR 12’6”+)

Open Adult Divisions

• o Any athlete age 18 and up who graduated high school prior to 2026 with a PR less than 15’

• o 1.85m (6’1”) starting height for women

• o 2.45m (8’) starting height for men

NOTE: Male and female competitors in combined divisions are scored separately. 15cm progressions will be used for Open Divisions.

ELITE DIVISION INFORMATION

Entry Standards - Progressions - Airport Pick Up - Afterparty

Men Elite II Division

• o 5.50m (A) standard - automatic qualifying

• o 4.90m (B) standard - waitlist

• accepted B-standard entries posted by June 20th

4.70m starting height (15cm progressions)

Men Elite “Invite” Division

• o Event + Facility Record: 5.82m / 19’1.25” (Austin Miller - 2024)

• o 5.80m (A) standard - automatic qualifying

• o 5.50m (B) standard - waitlist

• accepted B-standard entries posted by June 20th

• alternates will compete in the Men’s Elite II Division

5.00m starting height

Progressions:

• 5.00+15 (16’5”)

• 5.15 (16’11”)

• 5.30 (17’5”)

• 5.45+10 (17’11”)

• 5.55 (18’3”)

• 5.65 (18’6”)

• 5.75+5 (18’10”)

• 5.80 (19’)

• 5.85 (19’2.75”) Event Record

• 5.90 (19’4”)

• 5.95 (19’6”)

• 6.00 (19’8”)

Women Elite “Invite” Division

• o Event + Facility Record: 4.73m / 15’6.25” (Bridget Williams - 2024)

• o 4.3m (A) standard - automatic qualifying

• o 4.0m (B) standard - waitlist

• accepted B-standard entries posted by June 20th

• alternates will compete in a Women’s Elite II Division (TBA), the Women’s Open Division, or Girl’s High School division

4.00m starting height

Progressions:

• 4.00+15 (13’1”)

• 4.15 (13’7”)

• 4.30+10 (14’1”)

• 4.40 (14’5”)

• 4.50 (14’9”)

• 4.60+5 (15’)

• 4.65 (15’3”)

• 4.70 (15’5”)

• 4.75 (15’7”) Event Record

• 4.80 (15’9”)

• 4.85 (15’11”)

• 4.90 (16’1”)

• 4.95 (16’3”)

• 5.00 (16’5”)

Elite Entries: Contact Events@DCVault.org

Note: Athletes meeting the “B” standard for Elite Divisions should register for Elite II Division or Open Divisions. If a “B” standard athlete is selected for Elite Division placement the athlete will be listed in the Elite Division on the start list (to be published on June 20th).

Airport Pick-Up/Drop-Off + Pole Storage

• DCA (Reagan National Airport) ONLY!

  • *Athletes Flying into DCA must coordinate Pick-Up and Drop-Off not later than June 15th

• Airport Pick-Up will be provided in two separate groups on Friday June 26th:

  • * Friday Airport Pick-Up Times: 1:30pm / 5pm

• Airport Drop-Off will be provided in two separate groups on Sunday June 28th:

  • * Sunday Airport Drop-Off Times: 9:15am / 12pm

• Pole Drop-Off Times at DC Vault for athletes driving and storing poles overnight:

  • * Friday Pole Drop-Off 12:00pm-5:00pm

• Pole Pick-Up Times at DC Vault for athletes driving and storing poles overnight:

  • * Sunday Pole Pick-Up 11:00am-11:30am (HARD TIMES - Gate LOCKS at 11:30am)

Afterparty & Elite Athlete Mixer

• 9:00pm at Butterworths

• Free hors d'oeuvres by internationally acclaimed Chef Bart Hutchins

• Elite Division Athletes meeting the A or B Invite standards enter free

• Full event details, guest and Open Division Competitor entry info below

FLY KIDS TRIAL CLASS INFORMATION

Class Schedule and Registration

Four 15-minute Fly-Kids Trial Classes will be offered free of charge during the event at the following times

• o 2:30pm

• o 2:45pm

6 participants per class

Ages 6-10 ONLY (strictly enforced)

Registration is first come first serve at the front gate

• o A parent must be present to sign the participant up for a time slot

• o After paying admission to the facility, coordinate with the front gate staff to choose a time slot (DC residents and children under age 13 enter free)

• o Time slots are available to reserve in listed order only. Once each class fills up, the next time slot will become available for reserving.

GENERAL EVENT INFORMATION

SPIKES

• o 1/8" SPIKES ONLY at this facility (not standard 1/4" spikes!)

• o ELITE DIVISION athletes only may wear 1/4" spikes

• o Athletes using spikes longer than 1/8" will be disqualified/scratched from the competition

• o 1/8” spikes can be purchased online at Amazon.com

  • Strongly Recommended so you don't waste time at the event trying to change spikes!

  • Available for $5 per set at the event (bring your own spike wrench)

Start List/Results

• Download Start List HERE! (Available June 22nd)

• Download Final Results HERE! (Available July 1st)

Awards/Sanctioning

• Medals will be awarded in all divisions, 1st through 3rd place

• Special Limited-Edition Medals Awarded for facility records and State Champions Divisions (boys + girls)

• USATF + World Athletics Sanctioned

• Elite Division Results will be published to WorldAthletics.org

• Open Division Results will be published to Milesplit.com and PoleVaultChampionships.com

REGISTRATION

Early bird registration for the 2025 Pole Vault Championships opens to all athletes ages 7 and up on March 1st.

• $50 March
  $60 April
  $70 May thru June

Registration closes June 19th. Late entries are NOT accepted.

Venue - Spectators - Coaches

• DC Vault Pole Vault Center - 2200 East Capitol Street NE, Washington DC

• 3 Mondo Runways, UCS 1800, 1900 and Elite 2100 series pits

• Parking On-Site (Lot #3), download SITE MAP HERE to view parking and team tent areas

• Enter the facility from the E. Capitol Street sidewalk gate by exiting Lot #3 onto the sidewalk and heading to the double gate facing the street next to the DC VAULT storage unit.

• $10 Admission for all non-competitors entering the facility (CASH or QR CODE)

  • o Children Under age 13 enter FREE

  • o DC Residents enter FREE

  • o Spectators and coaches may also watch from outside the fenced area free-of-charge

• TENTS and CANOPIES are NOT allowed inside the venue. Spectators wishing to use personal shade canopies or pop-up tent canopies may do so OUTSIDE of the fenced area and enter/exit the venue as needed after paying admission. Download SITE MAP HERE to view parking and team tent areas.

• Coaches who have paid admission may enter the facility and assist athletes in the designated coach’s box

  • o PLEASE be professional and immediately move to the back of the coaching box after your athlete jumps before talking to your athlete so that the next competitor’s coach has a clear view of the runway and pit!

Pole Storage

• Overnight pole storage can be arranged.

• • Pole Drop-Off Times at DC Vault for athletes driving and storing poles overnight:

    • * Friday Pole Drop-Off 12:00pm-5:00pm

  • Pole Pick-Up Times at DC Vault for athletes driving and storing poles overnight:

    • * Sunday Pole Pick-Up 11:00am-11:30am (HARD TIMES - Gate LOCKS at 11:30am)

Pole Rentals

• UCS Spirit Poles Available for Rent at the Event (inquire)

• $30 cash or QR code at check-in

• You may be sharing your rental pole

• ID will be held until the pole is returned

Event Features / Food

Available for purchase at the event:

• Grilled hot dogs and veggie dogs

• Gatorade

• Bottled Water

• Bring something special for yourself and we will grill it up at no charge!

Merchandise available for purchase

Bags $85

LIMITED SUPPLIES  
Advanced purchase online (available at registration checkout)
Also available for purchase at the event (if supplies last