Will Newport, a senior from Hempfield is hoping this spring track and field season is one that will vault him into the record books.
Newport is coming off a strong indoor season that saw him establish personal-best pole vaults on two occasions. On March 1, at the PTFCA Indoor State Championships at Ashenfelter Indoor Track at Penn State, Newport placed seventh with his best effort to that date at 14-0. Then two weeks later at the Nike Invitational at the Armory Track in New York City, he went 14-0½” to claim sixth in the Boy Emerging Elite Division.
He hopes he can help lead the team to big things this spring.
“I think we have a talented team,’’ he said. “I’d love to see us be in the mix for a league title."
For this outdoor season, he has his sights on the school record of 15-0. He wants to win the Lancaster-Lebanon League title and a PIAA medal. Last year he placed second at the PIAA District 3 meet at 13-6.
And, as a 400-meter man, he hopes to climb into the Top 10 all-time for the Black Knights. That requires a time of 50.91. He ran 52.24 indoors this past season.
Newport likes traveling, hiking, playing pickleball and disc golf with friends. Next year he plans on attending Penn State to major in political science before heading to law school. He doesn’t plan on competing at the collegiate level
