Summary: The male vault power of the Summit League is the University of South Dakota lead by Coach Derek Miles. California is the proving ground for the men of USD with three out of the four vaulters coming from there. Senior Kyle Ballew (San Diego, California) holds the school’s best mark at 17-5. Multi-event senior Kevin Sarehkhani (Walnut, California) checks in at 16-6. Sophomore Peter Chapman (San Diego) vaults has a PR of 16-8 and Sophomore Preston Perkins (Marinette, Wisconsin) has cleared 15-5.75
- Kyle Ballew — PR 17-5; High School PR 16-1
- Kevin Sarehkhani — PR 16-6; HS PR 14-0
- Peter Chapman — 16-8; HS PR 16-6.5
- Preston Perkins — 15-5.75; HS PR 15-0
Kyle Ballew SR West Hills, Calif./Los Angeles Valley JC
2013–Earned All-Summit League honors by winning the pole vault at the Summit League Indoor Championships with height of 17 feet, 1 inch…placed second in the pole vault at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational with a season high vault of 17-1¾…also placed second at the Jack Johnson Classic and the Iowa State Qualifier…won the pole vault at the USD Alumni Meet and USD Open…redshirted the outdoor season…named to the Summit League Academic Honor Roll.
2012–Qualified for NCAA West Preliminaries in the pole vault, placing 23rd at 16-8 3/4…set a personal-best of 17-5 3/4 in pole vault at Nebraska Invitational, winning the event…earned All-Summit League honors during the indoor season after taking third at indoor championships….set school indoor record in pole vault at 17-4 1/2 at John Dalton meet in February.
Los Angeles Valley JC–Set the school record with a pole vault of 17-1…was the Western State Conference champion, and the Southern California Regional champion…also placed third in the California state championships in back-to-back years (2010 and 2011).
Prep–Holds the school record (16-1 1/4)…two-time West Valley League champion…two-time Los Angeles City Section champion…fourth-place at the 2009 California State Championships…named the 2009 School Athlete of the Year.
Personal–Son of David and Debbie Ballew…Kinesiology and Sport Science major with a minor in Health Sciences
Peter Chapman SO San Diego, Calif./Murrieta Valley HS
2013–Capped off freshman campaign by winning the Summit League outdoor pole vault title in 16-8…received All-Summit League honors at both league indoor and outdoor championships…placed third at the Summit League Indoor Championships…won at the Howard Wood Dakota Relays with a height of 16-0…was fifth at the Sioux City Relays…placed seventh in the junior men’s pole vault at the USA Championships with height of 15-11.
Prep–California’s 2012 State Pole Vault Champion after clearing a height of 16-4…only athlete in Murrieta Valley school history to win a state championship…2012 High School Game Time boys track and field athlete of the year…became Riverside County record-holder and 2012 Arcadia Invitational champion with a personal record vault of 16-6 1/2.
Personal–Contemporary Media and Journalism major with a minor in Spanish
Preston Perkins SO Marinette, Wis./Marinette HS
2013–Scored in the pole vault at both Summit League championship meets by placing fifth indoors and sixth outdoors…had best vault of season with a 15-5 3/4 mark at the Beach Invitational…had season-best finishes by placing second in his division at the Mt. SAC Relays and second at the Mt. Marty Twilight…placed fourth at the Howard Wood Dakota Relays.
Prep–2011 USATF Wisconsin Indoor and Outdoor Champion… Two-time WIAA Regional Champion… 2011 Bay Conference Champion in pole vault.
Personal–Son of Evan and Linda Perkins…undecided major
Kevin Sarehkhani SR Walnut, Calif./Walnut HS (Mt. SAC)
Career Bests
60H: 8.21 (2013)
High Jump: 5’9″ (2013)
Pole Vault: 16’6″ (2013)
Long Jump: 19’11″ (2013)
Shot Put: 31’6″ (2013)
2013–All-Summit League honoree after placing third in the pole vault at the Summit League Outdoor Championships…placed eighth in the 60 hurdles at the Summit League Indoor Championships despite pulling his hamstring in the preliminaries…had career-best vault of 16-6 while placing second at the Sioux City Relays…won his division at the Mt. SAC Relays…was third in the pole vault at the Duals…placed second in the 60 hurdles at the USD Open…named to the Summit League’s Academic Honor Roll with Distinguished Scholar Status…made Commissioner’s List of Academic Excellence.
2012–Finished eighth in the pole vault at Summit League Outdoor Championships…had a personal-best of 15-11 at John Dalton indoor meet…won the pole vault at Iowa State Classic at 15-4 1/2…named to Academic All-Summit League team.
2011–Competed at Mt. San Antonio College…had a season-best pole vault effort of 16-2 3/4 at 2011 American River Invitational.
Prep–Named most valuable pole vaulter and most valuable hurdles…named first-team all-league in pole vault and second-team all-league in the 4 x 100, 4 x 400 and 300 hurdles…had best pole vault effort of 14-0 feet in high school.
Personal–Son of Caroline Sarehkhani…Communications Studies major with a minor in Psychology
