Ashton Barkdull Wins National Championship in Men’s Pole Vault

Friday, March 13

Fayetteville, Ark.

University of Kansas

NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships

Ashton Barkdull Wins National Championship in Men’s Pole Vault

3/13/2026 9:30:00 PM | Track & Field

Results Photo Gallery

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Kansas track and field redshirt junior Ashton Barkdull won the national championship in the men's pole vault, clearing a personal best 5.80 meters on day one of the NCAA Indoor Championship on Friday.

Barkdull, of Andover, Kansas, becomes Kansas' third indoor national champion in the men's pole vault all-time, including the first since Hussain Al Hizam in 2018. Barkdull becomes Kansas' 23rd indoor national champion all-time and the first since Bryce Hoppel won the 800 meter national title in 2019.

Kansas senior Anthony Meacham placed sixth in the men's pole vault by clearing a personal best 5.70 meters, earning him his first career All-America honors.

"It's the first time I've almost cried after winning something just because of how special it was for him and how special it was for the family," Kansas vertical jumps coach Tom Hays said after Barkdull's win. "He's been ready to jump this bar for about six weeks…he really learned how to step up and use his endurance to compete. Those two together, both PR'ing at the national meet on the same night is pretty cool. I've never seen it where roommates pull each other along like that, as those two do, they're pretty special."

Barkdull won his first career national title by clearing a personal best 5.80 meters, which is tied for the second best performance in Kansas school history. Barkdull finished as the runner-up in the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championship with a clearance of 5.72 meters and as a second team All-America indoor championships in 2025, finishing 13th.

Barkdull opened with a first attempt miss at 5.40 meters, but would go on to clear two straight bars at 5.50 meters and 5.60 meters. Barkdull would then pass at 5.65 meters, advancing to 5.70 meters with just seven competitors remaining.

Barkdull made quick work at 5.70 meters, clearing on his first attempt and would pass at 5.75 meters. Meacham would also clear 5.70 meters, but on his second attempt.

With the bar set at 5.80 meters, Barkdull cleared his personal best jump at 5.80 meters on his second attempt, being the first competitor to do so in the field. Texas A&M's Aleksandr Solovev, who beat Barkdull to win the 2024 NCAA Outdoor title, missed on his first two attempts before clearing on his third to force attempts at 5.85 meters.

Barkdull and Solovev both missed all three attempts at 5.85 meters, giving Barkdull the national title based on misses.

"It was incredible, this is the most stacked the NCAA field has been to my knowledge… ever since I got second place last year all I could think about was 'This is not happening again, I'm winning, I don't care who's jumping, I'm showing up here and winning'," Barkdull said after the win. "I like to say DFQ, whatever's thrown at you, don't freaking quit. Clearing the 19 feet mark and getting that win was incredible."

Meacham would pass at 5.75 meters, before missing his three attempts at 5.80 meters to place sixth overall.

Friday also marked the start of the men's heptathlon, as senior Tayton Klein is in eighth place with 3,242 points, while redshirt senior John Swabik is in 15th place with 3,085 points.

Klein and Swabik got the day started in the heptathlon 60 meter hurdles, where Klein earned 911 points finishing in 6.92 seconds. Klein would also finish in the top half of the men's heptathlon long jump by jumping 7.43 meters, placing seventh.

Swabik had a strong outing in the heptathlon shot put, throwing 13.69 meters for 709 points, placing fourth.

"I thought holistically it was a fairly positive day," Kansas multi events coach Paul Thornton said following the first day. "With Tayton Klein sitting in eighth place and John showing some great things in the shot put was great. Both of these guys have really good second days and I'm looking forward to both of them continuing to move up in the rankings."

Following day one of the NCAA Indoor Championships, the Kansas men have 13 points and sit in second overall in the team standings. The Jayhawks will be back in action on day two of the NCAA Indoor Championships on Saturday with the men's heptathlon kicking off at 11 a.m. The meet will be live streamed on ESPN+ and live results can be found on FlashResults.