Tioga Elementary School student and one of the Ranch Cities’ brightest young sports stars, Talia Horton, took the first steps of her athletic career this summer, winning gold at the 2026 Mac Vault Summer National Championships pole vaulting competition July 24.
Talia blazed her way down the ramp for the first time this season, beginning her training this spring and culminating with her competing at the national- level event in Navasota, where she set a new personal record of 4-feet-6-inches to finish in first.
“I’m absolutely floored at how much progress she’s made in such a short period of time,” Talia’s father and coach, Troy Horton, said. “When she started on May 4th, she could barely swing herself up onto the landing pad, to now where she can clear a crossbar that’s over her head is nothing short of amazing.”
