Career
Four time World Record holder in Pole Vault. John was a world class track and field athlete. He was the first in history to clear 16 ft. breaking both the indoor and outdoor records. Sixteen feet was seen to be a psychological barrier similar to breaking the four minute mile. His first record over 16' was 16' 1/4" at a sold out crowd for the Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden on February 2, 1962. A week later he again jumped over 16', this time in Boston. He later made a world record outdoor jump in Santa Barbara, California clearing 16'3/4" at the Santa Barbara Easter Relays.
Uelses, one of the first vaulters to jump on a fiberglass pole, made this new style of vaulting pole the standard with his 16' jump. His jumped also landed him on the cover of Sports Illustrated on Feb 26 1962. At the time of his record breaking jumps, Uelses was a Corporal in the U.S. Marines stationed in Quantico, Virginia. He was part of the U. S. track team traveling and competing all over the world. He vaulted and won medals in Russia, Poland, Finland, Japan, Germany and England. Uelses dreams of the 1964 Olympics were shattered when he was unable to qualify at the Olympic trials.
After leaving the Marines, Uelses received a scholarship to La Salle University in Philadelphia. John was a member of the Explorer track team He won the NCAA pole vault championship in 1964, 3 IC4A championships and 2 MAC championships in the event. NCAA All American. Uelses also played soccer for La Salle.
Upon graduating from La Salle, Uelses served as a U. S. Naval Officer. After completing flight school in Pensacola, Uelses served as a member of F-4 phantom fighter squadrons and was a member of the first F-14 Tomcat fighter squadron, VF-1. Uelses squadrons were stationed on the USS Ranger and the USS Enterprise.
U.S. Track and Field Pole Vault Hall of Fame Florida Hall of Fame La Salle University Hall of Fame
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