Dallastown pole vaulter clears major mark

Dallastown pole vaulter Jared Allison cleared a major milestone -- literally -- at the Franklin and Marshall New Year's Invitational on Saturday.

The senior vaulted15 feet to take home a gold medal from the event. More significantly, that height ranks Allison second in the state for the indoor season, just shy of the top mark of 15 feet, 3 inches.

Allison took three attempts at 15-4, but couldn't clear the mark.

Allison placed sixth at the PIAA Track and Field Championships last spring by surpassing 14 feet. He also took home a bronze medal at the District 3 championships.

Even more impressive? Allison only began pole vaulting about two years ago.

“Winter track of 10th grade, my coach came up and said ‘You ever think about pole vaulting?”  Allison said last spring. “So I said ‘Why not’”

He should be one athlete to watch come the spring track season.