Shade Weygandt Press Release 11/17/12

Former Mansfield High School and Texas Tech pole vaulter, Shade Weygandt at 21 will begin her career as a professional track and field athlete, thus foregoing her senior year of eligibility for the Red Raiders. Shade will begin training with elite coach Danny Wilkerson in December and with fellow elite athletes. 

Shade will split her time between Lubbock, South Bend, IN and Boston, MA while completing her degree in Psychology at Texas Tech University she is due to graduate in May. 

Shade, a three time Texas State Champion (06,07,08) for Mansfield High School and is the current all time state record holder in the pole vault (14’0).  Adding to her resume, Shade was also a Nike Outdoor Champion in 2007 & 2008, and a USATF Junior National team member. 

She completed her high school career in only 3 years, so it came as no surprise that she would complete her collegiate career and make her move to the professional ranks in only 3 years.  As a Red Raider, Shade was consistently the top ranked American athlete while setting records and winning prestigious meets like Mount Sac, Big 12 Conference Meets and was also a member of both the World and Pan Am teams throughout her high school and collegiate careers. 

Shade, a NCAA All American, broke the Texas Tech Stadium record as a junior in high school and went on to reset the record numerous times leaving a lasting legacy at Texas Tech. This past summer she was the only women collegiate vaulter to qualify for the Olympic Trials with the automatic A Olympic standard mark of 4.50 (14’9’). 

Shade is now looking forward to the next chapter in her career. Chasing the dream 2016 Olympics in Rio.