Since its debut in 2019, Key West’s Pole Vault in Paradise has drawn an elite crew of athletes who trade traditional runways for tropical vibes. This year’s event took place at Higgs Beach Jan. 1-3 and continues to grow each year.
“What better place is there to vault than Key West in January?” said event founder Steve Haines. “We were the first outdoor meet of the season and raised significant funds for the Key West High School Track Team.”
Competitors have included Austin Miller, 2024 USA Indoor Championships bronze medalist, and Anicka Newell, a two-time Canadian Olympian and 2018 national champion.
The sandpit at Higgs Beach has also seen the likes of Jill Marois, a record-setting vaulter and three-time conference champ from High Point University, and Carson Waters, a former Big South Conference indoor and outdoor champion who still holds the meet records with jumps of 5.20m and 5.29m.
Alongside national champs and Olympic hopefuls like Scott Houston and Megan Clark, these athletes have helped make Pole Vault in Paradise a high-flying fusion of serious competition and laid-back Key West charm.
