Payton Morris of East Pennsboro is a Millrose Games champion.
The senior, who has been one of Pennsylvania's top pole vaulters all season, posted a big personal best and earned a close win at the Millrose Games' opening night at the The Armory in New York. Morris jumped 16 feet, 3/4 of an inch on his first attempt after being perfect before that.
Morris came in at 14-7.25, then moved up to 15-1, 15-5, and 15-9 before the winning height. Morris joins Timothy Moses of Palmyra (2013) and Gregory Potter of Red Lions (2016) as Pennsylvania champions in the high school pole vault at Millrose. The event was first introduced in 2013.
Thursday night's vault to kick off Millrose, which picks back up on Saturday, improves on Morris' own PA#1 (previously 15-8) and moves him up to No. 14 in the country.
Charles Dever of West Chester Rustin placed fifth with a jump of 15-1 and Joe Jardine of Schuylkill Valley placed ninth with a jump of 14-7.25.