(New Buffalo, MI) - A New Buffalo High School student is following in his father’s footsteps by breaking a school record in track.

 

Jack Lantz cleared the stick at 11’6” in pole vaulting during a conference meet at home Tuesday. 

 

He shattered by 14 inches the previous mark set by Creo Brewster, who graduated in 2017.

 

“Very impressive on his part,” said New Buffalo High School Track and Field Head Coach Nate Jones.

 

Lantz, whose previous high was just one inch below the previous record, said he knew he would break it sometime this year but was shocked by how much.

 

He didn’t think he would clear the stick at 10 feet since he was still trying to adapt to a slightly longer pole he switched to recently.

 

“I’m completely surprised,” he said.

 

Before his record setting effort, Lantz said his father, Josh, gave him a few pointers from the bleachers about his mid-air form to help him clear the stick.

 

“That just kind of made it click for me,” he said.

 

Mr. Lantz was a record setting pole vaulter at Wawasee High School in Syracuse, Ind.  His high mark was 12’ 3.”

 

Lantz hopes to gradually narrow the distance gap between he and his father. He might have a chance considering he just started pole vaulting as a sophomore.

 

“I’m trying to catch up to him,” he said.

 

Jones said Lantz also excels in other track and field positions.  For example, he won the 300 meter and 100 meter hurdles last week in another conference meet. Lantz is also a member of the four man one mile relay team, which Jones feels has a good chance to make it to the state finals.

 

“We can put him almost anywhere and he’s going to be successful,” he said.