Texas –Sometimes it’s hard for Ryan Wilkes to keep his remarkable accomplishments in perspective.Being the top pole vaulter in the Lackawanna Track Conference and now District 2 Class AAA has afforded him the luxury of setting extremely high standards for himself and lofty expectations each time he competes.So when he soared above 15 feet to establish a record in the event for the second straight season at the District 2 Class AAA Track and Field Championship meet, he reacted with little excitement.His goal was 15-4, and while the Valley View junior appeared to rise above it with ease, he came down and just grazed the crossbar with his arm, giving him something to shoot for next week at the PIAA Championships in Shippensburg.“I had done 15-0 before, so I wanted to get higher,” Wilkes said. “I really wanted to clear 15-4.”All of the competitors in the event had completed their attempts by the time Wilkes got started toward his goal.He entered at 13-9, then went to 14-6, then 15-0.It ended up being a short work day toward the gold, as Dallas’ Drew Harding finished second at 13-3.But when he failed at 15-4 three times with his second try being his best, it left him somewhat disappointed.“I watched the video and I had it,” Wilkes said. “It will be tough to keep watching it.”Still, Wilkes left the stadium tying his mark for the best in the state by a Class AAA performer, according to the website pa.milesplit.com.
