Grayson Richardson — Pole Vault

01 / Competition

Built for
the Bar.

A 5A state qualifier as a sophomore. Sixteen feet twice, 15′9″ three times, fifteen feet more often than that — at sixteen years old. Grayson isn't a vaulter who happens to run; he's an athlete who chose the bar. And he's still growing, still getting faster, still getting stronger.

Freshman · 2025

14′6″

First varsity season

Sophomore · 2026

16′0″+18″

5A state qualifier · 8th in Texas

Junior · 2027

Oct →

Indoor season opens Oct 24

Competition Record

State qualifier. Grayson qualified for the 2026 UIL 5A State Track & Field Championships as a sophomore and finished 8th in the state at 15′0″. The winning height was 16′6″ — a bar he has been chasing all season, clearing 16′0″ twice, 15′9″ three times, and 15′0″ repeatedly. Consistency at that height at sixteen is what separates a good high-school vaulter from a college one.

Trajectory. 14′6″ as a freshman to 16′0″ as a sophomore — eighteen inches in one year. His 15′9″ indoor mark ranked #53 nationally on MileSplit, and he cleared 4.59m at the Texas Relays (Mike A. Myers Stadium, Austin). He is 5′10″ and 145 lbs and still growing; the speed and strength gains ahead of him are the point. Coaches recruiting for 2028 are recruiting the vaulter he'll be at 20, not the one he is at 16.

The work. Roughly 18 hours a week with Key Athletics under Coach Vladimir Kalmykov, plus 4–6 hours with Grapevine's sprint group. Junior year he adds relays and long jump for the Mustangs. Indoor season opens October 24 with a target of 16′6″+ and a return to Austin in May.

02 / Training

Every rep
is the rep.

Eighteen hours a week, year-round, under one coach. Grayson trains almost exclusively with Vladimir Kalmykov at Key Athletics — an 18′1″ vaulter with a master's in sports coaching. One technical model, every drill, every pole change. Off the runway, he chases the same edge — in November 2025 he raced the Hyrox Dallas team relay against adult competitors, finishing in 1:09:41.

Inside the System

One coach, one system. Grayson spends roughly 99% of his training time with Coach Vladimir Kalmykov — a former elite vaulter (18′1″) with 15+ years of professional experience and a master's degree in sports coaching. That continuity matters: every drill, every pole change, and every meet plan comes from a single technical model, so a college staff inherits a vaulter with a clean, consistent foundation rather than a patchwork of habits.

Plus the school side. Four to six hours a week with Grapevine's sprint group builds the speed that makes bigger poles possible. Junior year adds relays and long jump.

Hyrox Dallas. In November 2025, Grayson stepped off the runway and onto the Hyrox floor — sleds, farmer’s carries, rowing, and more across an eight-station course — teaming up for a relay division against adult competitors. His team crossed the line in 1:09:41. Different sport, same streak: put a challenge in front of him and he takes it.

Grayson with the Grapevine Spirit Rustlers on the sideline

03 / Community Service

Giving
Back.

Grayson played football and could still be on the field. He chose the runway — then joined the Spirit Rustlers to keep showing up for the teammates he left behind. That's who he is: all-in on his craft, all-in on his school.

Community Involvement

Spirit Rustlers. Grayson is a member of Grapevine High School's Spirit Rustlers, the student organization that drives spirit and support for Mustang football — game-day energy, team send-offs, and community events. He played football himself and is good enough to play now; he stepped away to give pole vault his full focus and develop faster, and the Rustlers are how he stays part of the football family.

Beyond the school. Service through school and church. Athletic achievement carries responsibility — and the best competitors are also the best teammates.

Back-to-school setup. Every August, Grayson helps his mom and other Grapevine teachers get their classrooms ready before the first bell — moving furniture, hanging displays, whatever needs an extra set of hands.

04 / Interests

More Than
a Vaulter.

He started saving before anyone told him to. At twelve he asked his grandfather to help him invest it — and he's been in the market ever since. He welds, rebuilds engines, and is chasing a commercial HVAC apprenticeship. The same habits that grow a portfolio grow a pole vaulter.

Business Mind, Trade Hands

The investor. Nobody taught Grayson the 80/20 rule — he just saved. Four years ago he took what he'd put away to his grandfather and asked how to invest it in the stock market. He's managed and grown that money ever since, and he's held jobs with several local businesses along the way. He thinks like an owner: plan, execute, review, repeat.

The tradesman. Through Grapevine's automotive program he's learning to weld, work on engines, and do brake replacements. He's pursuing an apprenticeship with a commercial HVAC company and wants to build a career across HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and welding — skilled trades where craftsmanship and problem-solving pay. Agriculture and trade-focused programs are a strong fit.

Why it matters on the runway. Pole vault is a patient, process-driven event. The discipline that grows a portfolio and the precision that rebuilds an engine are the same habits Grayson brings to every rep — which is why his coaches trust him with the long game.

Texas Construction School. Grayson is involved with Texas Construction School, a hands-on program that introduces students to the trades through mobile “SkillStations” in electrical, plumbing, and drywall work. He’s serving as a team member for the organization’s upcoming Trades Day and Skills Day events, introducing other students to hands-on trade work — the same track he’s pursuing himself.

05 / Faith & Family

The Real
Foundation.

Sunday mornings come before Saturday meets. Everything Grayson does is grounded in faith and family — the values he carries off the runway are the ones that show up on it: character, consistency, and conviction.

Faith & Family

Grayson's faith is not a background detail — it's the reason he competes, the reason he serves, and the reason he leads. His family walks this journey with him, from early-morning practices to late-season meets, and church is where the week resets. He's looking for a program and campus culture that aligns with who he is, not just what he can do.

A servant's heart. Those who know Grayson describe him as a natural servant leader — someone who is always looking for ways to bless the people around him, on the runway and off it.