Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships
Bagyula Boasted Incredible Pole Vault Prowess
Even after two meet records, Istvan Bagyula of George Mason wasn’t assured of victory in the pole vault at the 1991 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
That included the meet’s first 19-foot clearance.
Bagyula, the defending NCAA champion, was locked in a fantastic competition with Baylor’s Bill Payne and Kansas’ Pat Manson: They were the only ones to continue after a meet-best nine had cleared 5.50m (18-0½).
All three sailed over 5.70m (18-8¼) to break the meet record of 5.65m (18-6½) that Manson co-held from two years earlier, though more history was in store.