Published: May 19, 2008 09:12 am      

Morgan keeps family vault tradition alive

Freshman pole vaulter wins state championship

VELMA — Winning a state title is tough. Accomplishing it as a freshman is tougher. Doing both coming off a broken arm is a more arduous task.

Velma-Alma’s Dillon Morgan shook off both potential hindrances during the Class 2A state track meet, winning the state pole vault title with a personal-record height of 13-0.

After breaking his ulna in the area basketball tournament, Morgan was faced with the challenge of regaining strength in his forearm while remaining competitive.

“I played basketball with it broken for two weeks,” Morgan said. “It was tough, that was the down part of my season. I had to work twice as hard to come back from it.”

Morgan edged out Woodland’s Jimmy Dilbeck, on a day when anxiety and nerves were running high.

“There were a lot of jitters and a lot of guts being there and seeing everybody,” Morgan said. “That was expected. It came down to the last jump and all I could think was, I have to clear it.”

Morgan’s motivation for pole vaulting is a family affair, with cousin Laurean Dennis earning a state runner-up finish in the pole vault for the Lady Comets.

“It’s been in the family for years,” Morgan said. “All three of my cousins have each won it twice. So, naturally, I started to pole vault.”

Morgan added that his motivation at the start of the season wasn’t so much recovering from a broken arm, but more so the pursuit of the gold medal.

“It was pretty fun, you just have to work hard everyday and give it your best,” Morgan said. “Don’t let the other guys you me into thinking they are better than you. Just do what you know you can do.”

Morgan said that continuing to be part of a successful athletics program at V-A was something he was looking forward to next season.

“We are all family in Velma, we get along and work hard,” he said. “It’s what we do around here. Hopefully, by the end of my senior year, I’ll have a few more medals and a state record.”