Full results of the Union County Conf. meet
A few days ago, Conor Reilly was doing a little research on what the state sophomore record in the pole vault was.
When he discovered that it was 14-9, the sophomore at Union Catholic flashed a huge grin.
After making 15-0 in practice this season, Reilly knew it was just a matter of time before that record would be his.
The time came on Friday when Reilly scaled over the bar at 14-9 1/4 on his final attempt at the Union County Conference Championships at Gov. Livingston High School to become the No. 1 sophomore vaulter in N.J. outdoor history.
Reilly's 14-9 1/4 clearance broke the state sophomore record that was set 37 years ago when Ray Maragni of Seton Hall Prep made 14-9 in 1981. The 14-9 1/4 also vaulted Reilly to NJ #2 this season (not including dual meet marks) and is US #19 among all sophomores.
The 5-8 Reilly, who came into the indoor season with a PR of 13-0 and climbed up to 14-6 during this past winter, now has his sights set on making 15-0 and beyond this season.
Reilly, who is the starting goalie on the UC soccer team, has always had a flare for doing things in the air. And like many great vaulters, he has a strong gymnastics background.
"I think the thing that makes me so successful in vaulting is that I've had a long career in gymnastics,'' said Reilly. "I did gymnastics for like nine years, and it (the pole vault) just feels very natural for me.''
Reilly's gymnastics experience was responsible for helping to get him introduced to vaulting.
When he attended a track camp at Union Catholic in eighth grade, Andrew Ghizzone was working the camp. Ghizzone won the pole vault for Union Catholic by clearing 16-0 at the 2014 outdoor Meet of Champions, and he's now starring at the University of Colorado,
"Andrew recognized me from gymnastics and said I should try the vault,'' said Reilly. "I've loved it ever since.''
