As a sophomore (2013) and new to pole vaulting, Nicole Baker from Highland was jumping between 9-3 and 11-0 most of the season with an 11-6 at the Hohokam Invitational but her breakout meet came during the indoor season in 2014.
Last February at the USATF Youth Zonal Indoor Track & Field Championships at NAU, Nicole jumped 12-0 finishing 2nd. One month later she improved her jump by 8.75 inches for a new PR of 12-8.75.
Throughout the outdoor season Nicole consistently jumped 12-6 winning the Sun Angel Classic, the Hohokam Invitational, The Toro Invite and the Southeast Valley Championships.
Nicole's best jump came in June at the USATF Arizona Junior Olympic Championships where she jumped into the Arizona record books with a new State Record of 13-4.25. The jump also gave her the junior record.
The previous record of 13-4 was set in 2010 by Shaylah Simpson (Desert Vista).