Orange County, California –Santa Margarita freshman pole vaulter Kaitlyn Merritt started her CIF career with a record-setting performance at the Eagle Invitational Saturday at Santa Margarita High.

Merritt set the national federation freshman record with a meet-winning clearance of 12-10¼.

That clearance broke the old national freshman record set by former Newport Harbor standout Allison Stokke, who cleared 12-8 to win the CIF state title in 2004.

Her clearance also put her fourth on the county’s all-time list, trailing only Stokke (13-7), former Edison vaulter Tori Pena (13-2), and former Huntington Beach vaulter Allison Koressel (13-1).