Freshman pole vaulter D.J. Horton has been named an IUP Athlete of the Week in an announcement made Monday for the week ending on Sunday, February 28.
Horton, an Athlete of the Week for the first time, highlighted the first day of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships by clearing 16-02.00 (4.93 meters) to win the pole vault competition. His jump also broke the school record, which was previously set at 15-09 by Troy Litten.
Horton’s jump was good for an NCAA Division II provisional mark. He outjumped the second-place competitor by more than a foot.
Coming into the meet, Horton previously cleared 15-07 (4.75 meters) and was the top seed in the field. Last week at the Kent State Tune-Up, Horton matched his season-best height to finish third in the event.