Blake Bier Could Get Used To This

Prairie’s Blake Bier had never heard of a jump off before, but now he kind of likes them.

Bier won the pole vault at the Class 3A state track and field meet Thursday with a winning mark of 14 feet, 6 inches. But it was the mark of 14-3 that mattered most.

Bier and Tyler Wilson from Shadle Park of Spokane both cleared 14-6 but then missed three times at 14-9. That necessitated a jump off, with both athletes attempting 14-6; both missed. The bar went down to 14-3, and after Wilson missed, Bier easily cleared the jump to win a state title.

And what was he thinking as he fell to the mat?

“I was like, ‘Oh my God. Yeah! Please pole, don’t hit the bar. Please pole, don’t hit the bar.”