Boys' Pole Vault Preview
A trio of boys have separated themselves from the pack in the pole vault this season and it will make Sunday's state meet one of the can't miss events of the day.
The state leader for much of this season has been Payton Morris of East Pennsboro, the runner-up at indoor states last year. Morris has earned nine wins on the season. At the Millrose Games, he really broke through clearing 16 feet for the first time in his career to take the win (16-0.75). He then jumped 16-0 and 16-1 in his final meets of the season, showing he's on top of his game at the right time.
Morris is the favorite, but he'll have a few challengers for the win.
Joe Jardine of Schuylkill Valley, meanwhile, has seen a big improvement this winter. He won at the Kevin Dare Invitational at Penn State and then jumped 16-0 a few weeks ago. Charles Dever of West Chester Rustin has consistently jumped over 15 feet this season. His best of 15-9 came at a TFCAofGP meet a few days after Millrose. Morris, Jardine, and Dever recently matched up against each other at the PTFCA Carnival, with Morris and Jardine both jumping 16-0; Morris took the win on attempts.
Two others have jumped over 15 feet this season. Caleb Johnson of Germantown Academy took third last season as a member of Phil-Mont Christian's team. The GA transfer has performed well at the Armory this season and most recently posted a PR of 15-1 at Lawerenceville. State College's Luke Knipe put down a big PR of 15-0 (his indoor best by over a foot) at a home meet last week. Both will look to contend for the win with big days.
Hershey's Dalton Burnham, Altoona Area's Tyler Delozier, and Butler's Jack Codispot are among the others that will be battling for medals on Sunday in this strong competition.
Boys' Pole Vault Entries:
Event 32 Boys Pole Vault (16)
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Meet Record: 16-03 2/28/2004 Andrew Rademacher, Hickory
Name Year School
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1 Behm, Will 12 Waynesburg C
2 Burnham, Dalton 12 Hershey
3 Codispot, Jack 11 Butler
4 Delozier, Tyler 12 Altoona
5 Dever, Charles 12 W C Rustin
6 Durant, Bryant 12 North Penn
7 Franco, John 10 C R South
8 Jardine, Joe 12 Schuylkill V
9 Johnson, Caleb 11 Germantown Acad
10 Knipe, Luke 11 State College
11 Layton, Daniel 11 Waynesburg C
12 Morris, Payton 12 East Pennsbo
13 Mullen, Micheal 12 Bish Shanahan
14 Osborne, Patrick 11 State College
15 Pelusi, Jono 12 North Allegh
16 Showmaker, Randy 12 William Tenn