Jamie Hyland, a rising talent in pole vaulting, hails from a family steeped in the sport. With his grandfather, father, uncle, and two cousins all having competed as pole vaulters, it was almost inevitable that Jamie would follow in their footsteps. Despite only having taken up the sport roughly two and a half years ago, Jamie has already made a significant impact on the national and international stage.
In 2023, Jamie's talent truly began to shine. He claimed the Inter-Schools All Ireland title and the U16 AAI Outdoor Pole Vault Championship. His impressive performances earned him a spot on the U17 Irish squad for the English AAA championships, where he finished third with a personal best vault of 4.21m. This marked a significant milestone in his young career and set the stage for even greater accomplishments in the year to come.
2024 has seen Jamie continue to rise to new heights, both literally and figuratively. He kicked off the year by winning the AAI All Ireland U17 title with a Championship Best Performance (CBP) of 4.21m, tying his previous PB. Shortly after, he competed in the Senior Indoor Championships, finishing fifth overall with a new PB of 4.35m, showing that he could hold his own against older, more experienced athletes.
Jamie’s record-breaking run continued into the outdoor season. In May, he shattered the South Leinster Schools pole vault record with a stunning 4.41m jump and followed that up by breaking the Leinster Schools record with a vault of 4.30m. Although he had a slightly disappointing performance at the All Ireland Schools event, finishing second with a vault of 4.10m, it was clear that this young athlete was far from done.
A week later, Jamie bounced back in remarkable fashion, winning the Tailteann Games with a new PB of 4.51m, breaking a record that had stood for 30 years. His relentless drive and ability to push his limits paid off again when he was selected to represent his school at the SIAB competition in Wales. Though he no-heighted, a rare setback for the Irish favourite, Jamie rebounded just a week later to win the All Ireland AAI u17 championship, setting a new CBP of 4.40m. Incredibly, he broke the old record five times during the competition, showcasing his skill and consistency under pressure.
Jamie capped off the season by representing Ireland at the Scottish Championships, where he claimed the title with another stellar 4.40m vault.
Looking ahead, he has his sights set on even greater heights, with the aim of making the European Youth Olympics squad.
Jamie expressed to Run Republic his immense gratitude to his parents, his coach David Donegan, and mentors Eamonn Flanagan and Matthew Callinan Keenan, who have all played vital roles in his development as an athlete. Additionally, Jamie credits his club, St Laurence O'Toole AC, for providing him with the environment and resources to thrive.
As Jamie continues to vault into the record books, there is little doubt that he is part of the next generation of pole vaulting talent, one with the potential to make his mark on the international stage. The future looks bright for this young athlete as he eyes even bigger challenges, with the goal of representing Ireland at the highest levels.
Featured Image: by Perri Williams
