COLUMBUS — Bryan Justice took a relaxed approach into the Division I state meet. The Licking Heights senior battled some sickness in the week leading up to the pole vault, and he was trying to avoid putting too much pressure on himself in regards to attempting to match the indoor state title he won in March. Still, when Justice faced potentially the final vault of his high school career, the adrenaline was pumping. “Wow, that third jump felt good,” Justice said. “I just told myself, ‘Hey, if it’s the last jump you ever take, give it your all.Justice cleared an outdoor-best 15-feet-2 on his third attempt this past Saturday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium to move into third place. Justice moved up on the podium from a tie for sixth in 2013.Justice was not feeling in top form, but he persevered. It took him until his third attempt to 14-10 to clear as well. He had a good run at 15-6 his second attempt, but he just missed. He could not get up to the bar on his third.“I kind of tripped on my last jump, but I still jumped,” Justice said. “It just a trip, and even then I would have had to go one better and one better after that. Someone that wins like that deserves to win.”Justice often has talked about unexpected way he found pole vault. He said he tried most every sport he could growing up, and pole vault became his niche early in his high school career.Justice worked tirelessly the past two seasons, frequently traveling to a facility in Lewis Center for extra practice. He made an incredible jump to the state’s elite during his junior year, and he maintained that level of ability this season. more
