Sports

Track & Field: Riverhead pole vaulter nears school record

ROBERT O’ROURK FILE PHOTO | Charles Villa at last spring’s outdoor state qualifier. Villa cleared 15-03 in the pole vault Saturday at the Hispanic Games.

Riverhead junior Charles Villa narrowly missed equaling a school record this afternoon by clearing 15 feet 3 inches in the pole vault at the prestigious Hispanic Games at The Armory in New York.

Villa, the top returning pole vaulter in the county this year, finished third overall in the competition. The Hispanic Games continue throughout the day. Athletes from Riverhead and Shoreham-Wading River are competing.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH A LIVE STREAM OF THE HISPANIC GAMES

Last March, Dan Normoyle, then a senior, cleared 15-03 1/2 at the New Balance Indoor Nationals. At the spring state qualifier in June, Villa finished second, sandwiched between Normoyle (first) and teammate Jonah Spaeth, by clearing 14 feet. But with his pole vaulting teammates having both graduated, the event has been Villa’s to own so far this year and he appears to have the record books well in his sights.

Records in the pole vault were set and broken throughout the season last year at Riverhead. Spaeth set the indoor school record  last year at the Stanner Games at The Armory, clearing 14-6, which Normoyle eventually topped later in the season.

The outdoor record is 15-0, set at the state qualifying meet last spring by Normoyle.

See a VIDEO of Villa’s vault below courtesy of Danielle Thomas: