Parker Vaults 16-1 in Track Opener

Tom Parker of Notre Dame High shocked himself and just about everyone else when he pole vaulted 16 feet, 1 inch in a 73-54 season-opening dual-meet victory over Poly on Thursday.

“I only planned on jumping about 12 feet,” said Parker, the runner-up in last year’s state championships. “I figured I’d just jump high enough to win. I didn’t want to push it too fast after the injury.”

Parker had been sidelined for six weeks because of a stress fracture in his right foot after tying his personal best of 16-0 at the Sunkist Invitational in January.

Despite his inactivity, Parker cleared 16-1 on his third attempt after vaulting 15-3 on his first attempt and 15-9 on his second.