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McCorkel named Nike All-American


By Brian Caldwell
Courier Sports Writer Tuesday, June 20, 2006 2:20 PM CDT

Bryant's Spencer McCorkel continues to garner attention and accolades.

The Hornets' junior pole vaulter earned his second all-American honor this year when he cleared 16 feet, 7 inches for a third-place finish in the Nike Outdoor National High School Track Championships at Greensboro, N.C., on Saturday.

McCorkel already had captured All-American status in March when he finished fifth in the Nike Indoor Championships in Landover, Md.

McCorkel also has been named the Gatorade State Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

It was the second time McCorkel had received the honor.

McCorkel is one of three athletes to have won it twice. Russellville's Shannon Sidney and former Olympian Kenny Evans of Pine Bluff also were named twice each.

McCorkel, 5-8, 135 pounds, holds the national indoor vault record for high school juniors with a vault of 17-3 1/2.

He set the state overall record in the event in both the indoor and outdoor seasons and is ranked in the Top 10 for vaulters 19-and-under.

McCorkel set a state record at the AAAAA-Central Conference meet in Cabot with a vault of 16-8. Chad Faulkner of Fayetteville came in second with a vault of 15-6.

McCorkel also left his mark at the Meet of Champions in Hot Springs on May 25, winning the event with a jump of 16-5.

Both McCorkel and Fayetteville's Faulkner cleared 16 at the 2006 meet, marking only the second time that had been done at the Meet of Champions.

So far this year, only Scott Roth of Granite Bay, Calif., has a higher vault, posting a 17-5.

McCorkel also owns the sophomore record with a vault of 17 feet, set in 2005 during the Panther Relays at Magnet Cove High School.

Next year, McCorkel will have his eyes on Arkansas Vault Club coach and former Lake Hamilton star vaulter Morry Sander's record of 16-8 for an Arkansas senior.

McCorkel is also a force in the classroom with a 3.0 grade point average.

“Spencer is an outstanding young man,â€Â

For overall character, ive ever met someone more deservant of that award than him. Hes worked hard and deserves everything good that comes to him. Not only that, he takes it with a modest outlook.
Hes probably reading this, cant wait to vault with ya next year, should be some good times.

McCorkel is also a force in the classroom with a 3.0 grade point average.

just out of curiosity, is this a typo?? i mean, 3.0 is certainly a respectable GPA, but nothing to really highlight in a newspaper article, especially in these days of grade inflation.

Compared to most high school athletes, holding a solid 3.0 is respectable. Basically they are trying to say hes not stupid, he tries hard in school and does well, lol. I see where you are coming from, though. Personally i dont know if its a typo, but i dont think so.

I think that it was good of them to mention it (especially since it is part of the criteria that they consider), and saying that it makes him a "force" in the classroom is just a writer's way of making things a bit more dramatic.

I always think that it's funny whenever you read articles and it's always a leap or some sort to describe the vault...it has to be exciting! Saying he vaulted over 17' is not as eye-catching as he soared over 17'. The same with being a force versus "has".

The only problem is when it doesn't fit.

However, congrats! This honor is definitely something to be proud of!

Pulling a 3.0 at an Arkansas public high school hardly classifies you as a "force."

Wow!!! Enough of that! It was a newspaper article. Although they're rarely accurate with the details, it's nice to gets some props for our event.

Just concentrate on jumping much higher and not talking trash. We Arkansans would appreciate that.

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Bryant's McCorkel is still flying high


By Courier Sports Staff Monday, June 26, 2006 2:32 PM CDT

GREENSBORO, N.C. - With little doubt, Bryant's Spencer McCorkel is among the best in the nation. And on Friday, the junior finished third at the USA Track and Field junior national championships in Indianapolis finished third among the best in the nation.

"This was Spencer's last major competition of the summer and he finished it off in style. He was the only vaulter to finish in the top three at both the Nike meet and the USATF meet.â€Â