Last night at the Warsaw Regional, Plymouth High School senior Nate Patterson went high than he has ever before.
He raised the bar to 7 feet, 3.5 inches. But he didn't just put it up there and take his three attempts, he cleared that height! With that clearance, Patterson landed himself in the US No. 1 spot, pushing out a mark that has stood since late February. He also scored a new school, regional and Indiana's state record.
His clearance also lands him the all-time best in Indiana by about a quarter of an inch, besting a mark set back before Patterson was alive in 1998 by Lamar Johnson of North Central.
Patterson's previous best was 7-0 and he had attempted 7-3 earlier in the season--barely missing it. The senior is also headed to a big-time university next fall, the University of Southern California. He will continuing his jumping and academic career there.
He isn't the only Indiana athlete with a US No. 1 mark this year either. Fellow high jumper Katie Isenbarger currently holds the the nation's top mark with a 6-0 clearance.
Earlier in the season, Emma Wilson held a US No. 1 spot in the 1600, but others have now majorly improved, dropping her to the 89th spot. The state championships start next Friday with the girls meet and Saturday with the boys meet.