Corbin Rhoads Breaks 40-Year-Old Pole Vault Record at Wildcat Relays
Cassville’s senior pole vaulter Corbin Rhoads stunned the track and field community this week by breaking a near four-decade-old record at the Wildcat Relays. Rhoads soared over a bar set at 14 feet, 1.5 inches, surpassing the prior record of 14 feet, 1 inch established in 1986 by Allen Osborne and matched in 1996 by Jeremy Huse.
The landmark achievement took place Thursday at the Wildcat Relays, where Rhoads demonstrated remarkable focus and skill. Nearly clearing the bar on his first attempt, he succeeded on the second try, achieving a height that has eluded Cassville vaulters for 40 years.
“There was actually nothing going through my head at that point. I just focused on the jump. That feeling of pure joy hit immediately after I cleared the bar,” Rhoads said.
Rhoads credits consistency, hard work, and a strong foundation in fundamentals as critical to his success. “I’ve had days where I jumped perfectly and others where I couldn’t get off the ground. Success is the end result, but it takes failure to get there,” he explained.
Team Effort and Coaching Fuel Historic Success
The achievement reflects intense preparation guided by Cassville boys track coach Clay Weldy and girls field event coach Erin Flehmer, who also works closely with Rhoads. Weldy praised Rhoads’ commitment to improving his form and strength, including additional training with a pole vault specialist.
“He’s worked hard in the weight room and on fine tuning technique,” Weldy said. “The support from coaches and his consistency have propelled him to this new height.”
Wildcat Relays Highlight Multiple Medal-Winning Performances
Rhoads’ record-breaking vault helped anchor a strong showing for Cassville’s boys team, which nabbed multiple first-place finishes across events. Tyler Rattigan earned first place in both the 110- and 300-meter hurdles with times of 17.94 and 46.63 seconds, respectively.
Other top male performers included Brextin Sprague in triple jump, Isaac Luney in shot put, and Zach Myers in discus. Freshmen athletes like Cash Smith and Vincent Buttrum also contributed crucial points, signaling promising depth on the team.
On the girls’ side, impressive relay teams and individual performances showed steady progress. Pole vaulter Hopelynn Thompson, who only began vaulting this season, has scored points in every meet and continues to improve.
Next Steps: Eyes on Postseason Competitions
With the Big 8 Conference Meet scheduled Thursday in Monett, followed by district and sectional meets in Lamar and Buffalo, Cassville’s coaches are emphasizing focus, health, and steady effort heading into postseason.
“The postseason can be unpredictable. Some athletes emerge as state contenders unexpectedly, and others stumble on their best day,” noted Weldy. “Our goal is for every athlete to perform their best and see where it takes them.”
“We have gotten better every meet, and that was our goal,” Flehmer added, highlighting the girls team’s steady improvement and grit.
Cassville’s track program is poised for a strong finish this spring, carrying the momentum of Rhoads’ historic vault and team-wide success at the Wildcat Relays.
Full Wildcat Relays Highlights
Boys First-Place Performances:
- Corbin Rhoads, Pole Vault, 4.31m / 14’1.5” (New Record)
- Brextin Sprague, Triple Jump, 12.01m
- Isaac Luney, Shot Put, 13.60m
- Zach Myers, Discus, 36.29m
- Tyler Rattigan, 110m Hurdles, 17.94
- Tyler Rattigan, 300m Hurdles, 46.63
Girls First-Place Relay Teams:
- 4×100 Relay (Whittenburg, Yarnall, Wall, Reuter): 56.07
- 4×400 Relay (Whittenburg, Yarnall, Speer, Reuter): 5:23.32
- 4×800 Relay (Whittenburg, Yarnall, Cox, Reuter): 12:40.73
The Wildcat Relays have set the tone for what could be a landmark track season for Cassville athletes in 2026 as they prepare for increasingly competitive meets in the coming weeks.
