Johnston
makes record-
breaking 13 ft.
inch jump


By Rick Burres
Tribune-Courier Reporter
rburres@tribunecourier.com


DRAFFENVILLE – Andrew Johnston defies gravity.

Johnston, a senior at Marshall County High School, holds the school record for the pole vault.

He is also the only Marshal currently listed on the state leader board by Ky. Split, the nations premier high school track and field web site.

Johnston started his vaulting career in middle school. “I started two weeks before state my eighth grade year,” Johnston said. “I missed state by six inches my freshman year.”

Johnston has earned his slot in the state competition for the last two years and plans on being there again this year.

“This is (Invitational of the South) our fourth meet this year and I’ve won a couple and placed in all of them,” Johnston said.

“I only placed third today but I blew through my warm-up. It’s my own fault.”

Johnston is attracted to the difficulty of pole vaulting.

“Vaulting is all about technique,” Johnston said. “There is more to it than strength, speed or athletisism. Not everybody can do it.”

Johnston is largely on his own when it comes to training because Marshall County does not have a pole vault coach.

He lifts weights and runs.

“We don’t have a coach so I do my best,” Johnston said. “I just come out and jump a bunch.”

Johnston said it looks like he will be attending Union College in Barbourville, Ky.

“They’re giving me a scholarship and they have a couple of vaulting coachs there,” Johnston said. “I’m looking for a 14-foot vault by the end of the season.”

Johnston’s next meet is the Hopkinsville Invitational Saturday April 18.