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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle track and field held its first ever Beach Vault competition on the “World's Most Famous Beach”, just outside the Daytona Beach Hilton near the Ocean Deck restaurant on Saturday. Competitors in the inaugural event ranged from middle school students to athletes trying to qualify for the Olympic Trials as well as masters who have been vaulting for more than 40 years.

“In 42 years of vaulting, this is the fastest runway that I have ever seen,” masters competitor Mark Peters said of the 130-foot runway built with 2x4s and plywood with a track surface rolled on top. The surface allowed many of the 50 competitors to hit personal bests, several of who are already looking forward to next year's event.

The event was split into five categories, including pre-high school, high school, college, post-college and masters.  Competing in the post-college category, Sean Young posted the day's best mark, vaulting to 5.25 meters. Young and Elliot Haynie (5.20 m) were both attempting to hit the Olympic Trial qualifying height, but both just missed the “B” qualifying standard of 5.50 meters.

Adam Holdsworth led the way for the Embry-Riddle competitors, vaulting to a height of 4.95 meters to win the men's college division. Megan Bumby was the top Eagle finisher in the college women's division finishing just shy of her personal best at 2.90 meters.