Paul Wilson (pole vaulter)

Paul Wilson (born July 30, 1947) is an American athlete specializing in the pole vault. He was the world record holder in the event. The first vaulter to clear his age in feet. In 1967 he was the number-one ranked pole vaulter in the world, but his career was cut short by injury.

Wilson was an outstanding high-school pole vaulter. As a student of Warren High School (Downey, California), he was coached by John Mitchell.

In 1964 as a junior, Wilson came to the attention of Sports Illustrated magazine. SI published his "whizzer of 15 feet" in their March 16 edition and awarded him an "Award of Merit" for setting the interscholastic age record. He broke the age record by becoming the first 16-year-old to clear 16 feet.

A year later, in 1965, as a senior, he won CIF Southern Section and CIF California State Meet titles and had achieved an age best in the pole vault of 16 ft 6.75 in (5.05 m). On 20 March 1965, he vaulted 16-6 3/4 at the Southern Counties meet as a Senior. At the CIF Southern Section Track Championships, held on 28 May 1965 at Cerritos College, Wilson won with a height of 16-0. He set records with his performances at the CIF Southern Section Championships (16-1 1/2) and California State Championships (15-6 1/2). His personal best height of 16-6 3/4 was the best mark on record for a California high school athlete (more than 5 inches higher than the next highest mark, at 16-1 by fellow Warren High School athlete Bob Steinhoff), set a national interscholastic track & field record, and stood as the best in the world.

Wilson was twice named as Athlete of the Year in the CIF Southern Section by the Helms Athletic Foundation. In 1964 he was awarded for his pole vault of 16-0 1/8, in conjunction with hurdler Earl McCullough. In 1965 he was named again, this time for vaulting 16-6 3/4, with the co-award going to runner Richard Joyce; the two athletes were named together because both had won CIF and State meets and both had set new National Interscholastic records (Joyce's record in the 880 yard run still stands today because high schools metrified in 1980).

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