PVA Director
Coach Mark Heard (35 years experience)

Coach Heard’s passion for the pole vault and 35 years of experience has helped many athletes reach their full potential.  At Elk City High School, Heard’s pole vaulters won state titles 14 out of 23 years including 9 straight between 1995 and 2003 with a 1-2-3 sweep in 2001.  At Shawnee High School, he coached a 1-2-3 sweep with girls in 2008 and 1-2-4 in 2009 with three first year pole vaulters. His SHS pole vaulters won 3 state championships in 5 years.  

Currently in his seventh season at OBU, Heard’s pole vaulters have produced 31 All-American performances including 4 National Champion and 12 National Runner-Up performances.  

Through Pole Vault Academy Camps and evening vault sessions, Heard has guided the careers of multiple state champions, state runner-ups, and medalists.  His guidance has helped athletes attain college scholarships.


Heard's Top High School  Vaulters

Boys
17’07" Jeff Bray 1989 (2 time State Champion, Gatorade All-American, #3 Oklahoma All-Time, #11 American High School All-Time)
16’06" Ryan Jones 1992 (State Champion)
16’03" Jarrod Heard 1996 (3 time State Champion, NHS Coaches All-American)
16’01" Austin Landreth 2001 (4 time State Champion)
16’01" Chris Williams 2003 (2 time State Champion)
16’00" Pat Morrissey 1989 (State Runner-Up)
15’08" Trey Fryman 2001 (State Runner-Up)
15’04" Heath Payton 2000 (State Champion)
15'03" Andy Peffer (State Runner-Up)

Girls
11'09" Erin Shaughnessy 2011 (State Champion), 2009,10 (State Runner-Up)
11'01" Allison Burger 2009 (State Champion)
11’00" Lauren Meador 2006 (State Champion), 2005 State Runner-Up

Heard's Top OBU   Vaulters (10 YEARS)
Women
13'02.5"  Brianna Shippy  4 Time All-American  (2nd Highest Vault NAIA Outdoor Championship history)
              2009 NAIA  Indoor National Champion/Outdoor Runner-Up
              2010 NAIA Outdoor National Champion/Indoor National 3rd
12' 11.5"   Evan Shimanek  6 Time All-American        
              2011 Indoor National 4th Place
              2011 Outdoor National 3rd Place
              2012 NAIA Indoor National Runner-Up
              2012 NAIA Outdoor National Runner-Up
              2013 NAIA Indoor National Runner-Up
              2013 NAIA Outdoor National Runner-Up
12'03.5"  Erin Shaughnessy All American
              2012 NAIA  Indoor National Champion (Freshman)
Men
17'0.75"  Jeff Lewis 4 Time All-American 
              2010 NAIA Indoor & Outdoor National Runner-Up
              2011 Outdoor National Runner-Up              
              2012 Indoor National Runner-Up
16'06"     Andy Peffer 4 Time All-American
               2010 NAIA Outdoor National Runner-Up             
               2012 Indoor National 8th Place
               2012 Outdoor National 4th Place
               2013 Indoor National 5th Place
16'05.25" Seth Brown 2 Time All-American
              2009 NAIA Indoor National Runner-Up
16'04.75" Juan Gonzales 3 Time All-American
               2010 NAIA Outdoor National 4th
               2011 NAIA Indoor National 4th Place             
               2012 Indoor National Runner-Up
16'4.75"  Blaine Bassler 3 Time All-American        
              2012 NAIA Indoor National 5th Place
              2012 Outdoor National 3rd Place
              2013 Indoor National 3rd Place
16'4.75"  David Gilliland 
              2010 NAIA Outdoor Nationals 7th
16'1" Ryan Womack
              2016 NCCAA Indoor Nationals 2nd
              2016 NCCAA Outdoor National Champion
15'09"     Jonathan Hilton 2009 NAIA Indoor National Champion Heptathlon, 
              All-American Pole Vault
15'09"  Phillip Spess 2017
15'07"   Spencer Lashley 
               2016 NCCAA Outdoor Nationals 3rd
               2017 NCCAA Indoor National Champion
               2017 NCCAA Outdoor National Champion 
15'05"    Parker Jackson
15'05"    Blaine Kilinic
               2016 NCCAA Indoor Nationals 4th
​               2016 NCCAA Outdoor Nationals 4th

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