LA JOLLA, Calif. - The UC San Diego track and field program held the inaugural Leon T. Roach Vault-A-Thon on Saturday and the event was a smashing success, raising over $15,000 in honor of the former UCSD student-athlete that passed away in September. All of the proceeds will go to a fund setup in Roach's name to build a permanent memorial and improve the Triton pole vault facility.

Over 40 athletes from the San Diego pole vault community and beyond competed in the event, raising money that will help fund the installation of stands at the pole vault area on the UCSD campus.

UCS Spirit, the official track and field supplier of the NCAA, served as the event's sponsor.

"Today's vault-a-thon was nothing short of inspiring," head tack and field coach Tony Salerno said. "The support of the pole vault community has been amazing. A big thanks goes out to UCS Spirit for their sponsorship of the event."

Roach was a sophomore Physiology and Neuroscience major in Revelle College and spent one season with the UCSD track and field team. He was injured during a training exercise on September 3 and passed away two days later at Scripps Memorial Hospital.

A native of Huntington Beach, Roach came from a family of successful pole-vaulters. His father, Leon Roach II, competed at the University of Hawaii in the 1970s and had aspirations of competing in the Olympics, while his half-brother Curtis Hendrick was standout at Marina High School. Roach cleared 15'4" during his time at Marina, which tied for the second best jump in school history.

"Today was not only a celebration of Leon's life, it was also a big step in helping support the sport he loved so much," Salerno concluded.