Frankfort High School senior Colton Crum finally got what he had been wanting ever since his freshman year — a state championship.
Crum, who had two second-place finishes and a third at state, captured that elusive state pole vault championship Saturday at Indiana University in Bloomington when he cleared 17 feet, 4 inches. With a title in hand, Crum then proceeded to break the state record as he cleared 17-6.25 to break the record of 17-6 held by Deakin Volz in 2015.
That wasn’t the end of all of the awards for Crum as he presented by the Robert S. Hinshaw Mental Attitude Award, which is given to one senior annually at the state finals to someone who excels in attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability. WIth that comes a $1,000 scholarship to Frankfort High School in his name.
The title ended a lot of near misses for Crum, who took second as a freshman, placed third as a sophomore and was second a year ago.
Crum took three shots at 17-9.25 but couldn’t quite clear the bar.
Crum, who is headed to Notre Dame for college, becomes Frankfort’s first track and field state champion since Bob Laverty captured the long jump back in 1955. Crum also gave the Hot Dogs their first state champion in any sport since 2003 when Chase Thompson won a wrestling title.
Nathan Stone of Lawrence North finished second at 17-0 and Dillon Richard of Avon was third at 15-6.