Zach Bradford
After an illustrious high school and collegiate career, Zach Bradford of Bloomington, Illinois joines TeamESSX. While at Bloomington High, Zach was a 3-time state champion (2016-18) and is the current state record holder indoors (5.50m/18’0.5″) and outdoors (5.55m/18’2.5″). Zach won the 2018 USATF/AAU National Championship and was a 3-time high school All-American. Before his high school career ended, he represented Team USA at the IAAF World u20 Championships in Tampere, Finland where he won the silver medal.
Zach continued his high school success at the storied University of Kansas. He set the KU freshman record at 5.63m/18’5.5” and later broke both indoor and outdoor school records at KU; 5.77m/18’11” outdoors and 5.81m/19’0.75” indoors. While at KU, Zach was a 6-time All American (2 missed seasons due to COVID-19 pandemic) and a 2-time Big 12 Champion. His freshman season at KU, Zach also qualified for the 2019 IAAF World Championships in Doha, making him the youngest member of Team USA. He again represented Team USA as a sophomore winning silver at the 2019 NACAC u23 Championships in Mexico. Zach transferred to Texas Tech for his last season of eligibility and rewrote those record books as well; indoors clearing 5.91m/19’4.75” (5th all-time in NCAA history) and clearing 5.87m/19’3” outdoors (7th all-time in NCAA history). Zach earned 2 more All-American honors at Texas Tech as well as 2 more Big 12 Championships. Since graduating in May of 2023, Zach has qualified for another World Championships in Budapest. He will continue living and training in Lubbock, Texas with coach Tom Slagle.
Accolades:
- Highest World Ranking: 21 (4 week)
- 3-time High School All-American
- 8-time NCAA Division I All-American
- 2018 High School National Champion
- 2018 IAAF World u20 Championships Silver Medal
- 2019 NACAC Championships Silver Medal
- 2019 IAAF World Championships Qualifier
- 2019 USA Outdoor Championships 4th place
- 2021 USA Olympic Trials Qualifier
- 2022 USA Outdoor Championships 7th place
- 2023 USA Outdoor Championships Bronze Medal
- 2023 World Athletics Championship Team USA
Personal Bests:
- Indoors – 5.91m/19’4.75”
- Outdoors – 5.87m/19’3”
