The senior pole vaulter topped the bar at 15-3.75 on Friday to earn a place in the finals, then matches that height a day later to tie for fourth place and bring home a medal.

The effort was a personal best for Little, who soared to fourth on the all-time list at Los Gatos with the effort. His coach, Brandon Vance, holds the Gatos school record when he topped 16-3 in 1993, the year he finished eighth in the nation.

It was an impressive finish to a sensational senior season for Little, who just a week earlier had vaulted 15-0 to win the Central Coast Section title.

Los Gatos head coach Tom Newman had predicted in the preseason that Little would be "one of the top pole vaulters in CCS," and Little certainly lived up to expectations.

The senior entered the year with a personal best 14-6, but started his season by clearing 14-0 for a fifth-place finish at the Stanford Invitational.

"He's shooting for a lot higher," said Newman at the time. Little sure accomplished that.

He had a season best of 15-3—achieved at the CCS Top 8 meet at Los Gatos—by the time CCS rolled around and, while he was a few inches shy of that at the finals, his 15-0 effort was good enough for a section title, four inches better than his nearest rival.

Little plans to attend Brigham Young University in the fall and hopes to make the track and field team as a walk-on.

Riley's a winner

Shirley Riley of Los Gatos won five events in wheelchair competition when she competed in the Far West Games on May 21 at San José City College.

Riley took the 100 meters in 19.15, the 200 meters in 33.86, the 400 in 1:06.77, the 800 in 2:12.06 and the 1,500 in 4:13.45.

Riley went on to compete at the U.S. Trials, but her 2:18.66 was not fast enough to qualify for the team.

"But it was impressive to see her on the track with Cheri Blauwet, the female winner of the Boston Marathon's wheelchair division," said Gwen Parker, communications coordinator for San José Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services.

"Shirley started with the Wheels on Fire Junior Wheelchair Sports Team at San Jose Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services," said Parker. "We're very proud of her accomplishments."

Williams leads St. Mary's

John Williams won four gold medals to lead the effort for the St. Mary's School track and field team at the San Jose Citywide Youth Track meet.

Williams won the 400-meter and 800-meter running events, and he was also first in the softball throw and standing long jump. He was also a member of the 4x400 relay team that finished second.

Other St. Mary's athletes winning medals included Zach Hershberger in the standing long jump and both Michael and Kristin Freitas in the softball throw.

The top finishers in the Citywide meet will compete in the Northern California track meet on June 19 at San José City College.