Bobby Wos achieved three different milestones within the last month.
The Glenbrook South senior pole vaulter cleared a career-best height of 14-1 at the John Davis Titan Invitational on Friday, May 6. The following week, he won a Central Suburban South championship with a height of 13-1 on Friday, May 13. Then, on Thursday, May 19, Wos qualified for his first state meet when he cleared 13-7 at the Class 3A Loyola Sectional.
Wos finished third at the sectional.
“It feels great,” Wos said of qualifying for state. “It’s been a goal of mine since freshman year, and I’m just really happy that I cleared the (13-7 state-qualifying) height.”
Wos attributed his growth to continuing to run faster and using bigger poles, but also working on his technique. He did that at a pole vault camp at North Central College in Naperville during the summer between his junior and senior years. Attending the camp helped him improve, and focus on, his form.
“It’s very technical,” Wos said. “One (thing they teach) is to jump up when you go, and to really swing up your body so you can get upside down and inverted. And then to look down the pole so you can get a turn.”
Wos, who plans on pole vaulting at Harper College in Palatine next season, hopes to establish a new career high at the state meet by clearing 14-7. The Class 3A state meet is scheduled for Friday, May 27, and Saturday, May 28, in Charleston.
Wos will be joined at state by senior teammate Gavin Cernek, who placed third in the 400-meter dash at the sectional. He finished in a state-qualifying time of 49.60 seconds.
Eric Van Dril is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @VanDrilSports