BUTLER TWP — Jack Codispot just keeps soaring upward.

During Butler's meet Tuesday at Seneca Valley, the Golden Tornado senior pole vaulter broke the school record in that event by vaulting 15 feet, 6 inches.

The previous mark was 15-5, set by Jared Farabee in 1998. Codispot broke the record on a windy day.

“The conditions weren't ideal, but I felt pretty good,” Codispot said. “I've always felt like I was gonna break it at some point.

“Today (Tuesday) happened to be the day.”

Codispot set the record on his second try Tuesday. He nearly took the mark up a few notches.

He tried for 16 feet and actually cleared the bar. He barely nicked it on his way down.

“Honestly, I thought I had it,” Codispot said. “It was so close.”

Butler pole vault coach Jerry McGarrah said “you can't come any closer to hitting 16 feet without actually doing it.

“After witnessing that, Jack will clear 16 feet this season. I have no doubt about that,” McGarrah added.

Codispot is one of three Pennsylvania high school pole vaulters to clear 15 feet so far this season. The others are from State College and the Philadelphia region.

Payton Morris of East Pennsboro won the PIAA Class AAA pole vault title last spring with a vault of 16 feet.

“My targets right now are 16 feet — and the state championship,” Codispot said.

“There's no reason he shouldn't be thinking that way,” McGarrah agreed.

Because of Codispot's consistent dominance in the sport, Butler teammate Andrew Kline hasn't received much notoriety for his own success. Kline, a junior, has vaulted 14 feet, 7 inches this season.

“The WPIAL takes the top four and the qualifying standard is 14-3,” McGarrah said. “Andrew's goal should be to qualify for the state meet as a junior.

“I've actually talked to him about his situation, not getting much recognition for what he's been doing. But, like Jack, he's been successful at a very tough event.”

Codispot was a gymnast through sixth grade, competing in that sport for six years. Floor exercise and the pommel horse were his best events.

“My mother convinced me to try the pole vault in eighth grade,” he said. “It was a natural transition for a gymnast. I've been able to apply a lot of what I learned in gymnastics to help me in pole vaulting.”

Codispot will continue his academic and pole vaulting career at Slippery Rock University. He carries a 3.78 grade point average in high school and plans to major in mechnical engineering.

SRU's pole vaulting record — also the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference mark — is 5.20 meters (17.75 feet), set by Cameron Daugherty in 2013.

“I haven't even looked at their records yet,” Codispot admitted.

Butler has ordered new poles for Codispot that should be arriving shortly. McGarrah said he needs a different pole to better support his physical size.

“Our pole inventory is second only to Baldwin's in this region,” McGarrah said. “But pole vaulting js a physics problem. Jack needs a larger, more stable pole to suit his size.

“He's just a special kid. His athleticism helps him overcome so much. Even when his jump doesn't look that clean, he knows where he is in the air and what he has to do to clear the bar. He makes it work.”

Butler doesn't practice the pole vault much as McGarrah likes to save those efforts for actual competition.

“The physical act of pole vaulting is very grueling,” he said.

Codispot said the pole vaulters' practice regimen involves running, conditioning and technique in going over the bar.

“We can practice agility like that over the high jump bar,” Codispot said. “I love pushing myself to see how high I can go.

“Jared Farabee is a great guy. He's come around and given us tips and pointers at times. That record deserved to stand as long as it did.

“Somebody will come along and get this. That's what records are for.”