Alexander Lee
News Editor

Though the Westford Academy Boys’ Track team fell just short to Lincoln Sudbury on Wednesday, it still proved to be a monumental day for the team,  for junior Brendan Sullivan smashed the state pole-vaulting record.

Pole-vaulting, a sport that originated during the middle ages, involves an athlete attempting to jump high distances using a fifteen foot fiberglass rod. The athlete runs about twenty meters and then wedges the pole into the ground, and the whiplash from the bending pole sends the athlete flying over a horizontal rod.

The previous Massachusetts State Record was set at fifteen feet and three inches. Sullivan was poised to make a shot at the record going into the day. When the meet was virtually over and WA athletes had begun heading towards the buses, Sullivan was to make a few last efforts for the record.

The team piled around the pole vault, at first vehemently cheering for Sullivan and then completely silent with anticipation.

Sullivan pointed his pole towards the sky, and rushed forward. He wedged his pole vault into the ground, and deftly flung himself into the air. As he neared the pole, he bent his back and made it over the bar.

The crowd erupted. Sullivan had just set the Massachusetts pole -vaulting state record at fifteen feet four inches.

However, Sullivan was not done yet. He was given another chance to try at the next height. Sullivan lifted his pole once again and tried fifteen seven. This time, unfortunately, Sullivan hit the bar, barely missing the jump.

Sullivan had one more attempt to make it over the bar. He took a deep breath and lunged forth. The crowd watched anxiously as he jettisoned himself over the bar. As he made it over, the bar quivered, looking as if it were about to fall.

Then, the bar remained, and Sullivan had broken the state record once again; this time he had jumped fifteen feet seven itches.

Once again, the crowd erupted with applause. Perhaps, the coaches were the most pleased of all. Coach Peter Dennechek shook Sullivan’s hand and pat him on the back with praise.

When asked about the event Coach Jeff Kucaj responded, “it was truly incredible, amazing… just truly incredible”.

The crowd was wondering how long Sullivan could keep up his magnificent feat, when the Lincoln Sudbury coach called it a day. The meet was over.

Though Sullivan did not receive another chances to break his own record that day, he will have plenty more oppurtunities in the future.