Vaulting to New Level

Tuesday, September 4, 2012
LISLE, IL -- While Chet Clodfelter (center) might be better known more recently to the people of Putnam County for his silky smooth dance moves as a contestant in this year's Dancing with the Putnam County Stars, he's also happens to be a record holding pole vaulter. Clodfelter proved on Aug. 5 that he's still got what it takes as he earned a gold medal at the USATF Master Championships in Lisle. He competed in the men's age 45-49 division and won gold with a height of 14-feet-6-inches. Ironically, he posted that same height to set the record at the Putnam County track meet, a record that has stood for 31 years. To put that height into perspective, if he were to have competed at the IHSAA Boys' State Track finals this past spring, Clodfelter's height would have placed him in a tie for eighth with a freshman from Bloomington South High School.