Mike Tully
Encyclopedia
Michael Scott Tully (born October 21, 1956) is an American pole vault
er. He represented the United States twice in the Olympics, earning a silver in 1984, and held the American pole vault record from 1984 to 1985.
. Tully went to college at UCLA and was the NCAA champion in the pole vault in 1978 with a height of 5.53 metres. He won three national titles in 1977, 1979 and 1986. He also took the AAA Championships in 1976 and 1979 and the French championship in 1977.
He enjoyed great success at the Mt. SAC Relays
, winning four pole vault titles, each at a meet record height. His last victory came at a height exactly one foot higher than the first. He also holds the distinction of being the first vaulter to clear 18 feet in the competition. His efforts earned him the honor of induction into the Mt. SAC relays hall of fame in 1994.
and 1979 IAAF World Cup
. He competed at the 1983 World Championships without registering a valid mark. In a one month period in 1984 he raised the American record three times by a total of almost three inches. He concluded the season with a silver medal at the 1984 Olympic Games. He took the American record from Jeff Buckingham, but his national record was broken in 1985.
At the Pan American Games he won gold medals in 1983
and 1987 Pan American Games
, both times with championship records, first 5.45 metres then 5.71 metres. He also finished fourth at the 1986 Goodwill Games
.
Pole vault
Pole vaulting is a track and field event in which a person uses a long, flexible pole as an aid to leap over a bar. Pole jumping competitions were known to the ancient Greeks, as well as the Cretans and Celts...
er. He represented the United States twice in the Olympics, earning a silver in 1984, and held the American pole vault record from 1984 to 1985.
Early career
He was born in Long Beach, CaliforniaLong Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
. Tully went to college at UCLA and was the NCAA champion in the pole vault in 1978 with a height of 5.53 metres. He won three national titles in 1977, 1979 and 1986. He also took the AAA Championships in 1976 and 1979 and the French championship in 1977.
He enjoyed great success at the Mt. SAC Relays
Mt. SAC Relays
The Mt. SAC Relays are an annual track and field festival held primarily at Hilmer Lodge Stadium on the Mt. San Antonio College campus in Walnut, California. The relays, held in April each year, were started by then track coach Hilmer Lodge in 1959. The meet attracts all levels and disciplines of...
, winning four pole vault titles, each at a meet record height. His last victory came at a height exactly one foot higher than the first. He also holds the distinction of being the first vaulter to clear 18 feet in the competition. His efforts earned him the honor of induction into the Mt. SAC relays hall of fame in 1994.
International career
Tully won the first two World Cup competitions, the 19771977 IAAF World Cup
The 1st IAAF World Cup in Athletics was an international track and field sporting event sponsored by the International Association of Athletics Federations, held on September 2–4, 1977, at the Rheinstadion in Düsseldorf, West Germany.-Men:|width="50"| ...
and 1979 IAAF World Cup
1979 IAAF World Cup
The 2nd IAAF World Cup in Athletics was an international track and field sporting event sponsored by the International Association of Athletics Federations, held on August 24–26, 1979, at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada.-Men:|width="50"| ...
. He competed at the 1983 World Championships without registering a valid mark. In a one month period in 1984 he raised the American record three times by a total of almost three inches. He concluded the season with a silver medal at the 1984 Olympic Games. He took the American record from Jeff Buckingham, but his national record was broken in 1985.
At the Pan American Games he won gold medals in 1983
Athletics at the 1983 Pan American Games
The Athletics Competition at the 1983 Pan American Games was held in Caracas, Venezuela.-Men's Events:-Women's Events:-Medal table:-References:*...
and 1987 Pan American Games
Athletics at the 1987 Pan American Games
The Athletics Competition at the 1987 Pan American Games was held in Indianapolis, United States. The events were competed at the IU Indianapolis Track and Soccer Stadium.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-References:*...
, both times with championship records, first 5.45 metres then 5.71 metres. He also finished fourth at the 1986 Goodwill Games
1986 Goodwill Games
The 1986 Goodwill Games was the inaugural edition of the international multi-sport event created by Ted Turner, which was held from 5 – 20 July 1986. The main stadium was the Olympic Stadium in Moscow, Soviet Union...
.