Tyler Porter’s seventh-place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore., capped what the sophomore from Jefferson, Ga. called, “the greatest season of my life.” The U of Tennessee pole vaulter’s psyche had taken a huge hit in September when he was diagnosed with two bilateral hernias. “I ended up having those patched around September sometime and I went and had surgery,” Porter said. From September until December, “they wouldn’t let me practice jumping.” The UT sophomore did rehab and “was sitting there mad at myself for getting hurt.” Porter nearly redshirted his sophomore year until he launched with soaring colors at the Virginia Tech Invitational. “I was planning redshirting for the indoor season and the first meet the guys went to I traveled by myself to compete unattached and I ended up jumping close to my PR from a short approach which is pretty big,” Porter said. “My coach was really happy with the way I was jumping so we decided not to redshirt and start competing for the team.” Despite Porter’s rejuvenating 16-9 score in Blacksburg, Va., the recuperating pole vaulter “wasn’t actually ready” until he reached outdoors and realized it at the SEC Indoors in March after finishing ninth with a 16-6. Porter failed to score at the conference championship meet, but the setback pushed him towards an outdoor season launch. .” One of UT’s three NCAA qualifiers didn’t feel beneath his two teammates after he was done with nationals in Eugene, Ore. In three tries, Porter jumped to 17-8.5 feet, a personal record and five and a half inches better than his NCAA East Preliminary score (17-2.75). He nearly reached 18 and a second personal best on his next four attempts. more at UTDailyBeacon.com
