Zane Rohrbacher sets Perkins pole vault record

Zane Rohrbacher will have to re-do his goals sheet. The Perkins track team members all put together preseason hopes for what they'll accomplish, and one of Rohrbacher's was setting the Pirates' pole vault program record. "We're just trying to make sure he's perfect at the end of the year so he can make it down to the state meet and get on the podium," Perkins boys track coach Shane Burrows said. "That's the ultimate goal." On Tuesday, Rohrbacher took care of the intermediate goal. He jumped 14 feet, 11 inches at Norwalk to break the previous Perkins record of 14-10 held by Connor Trent. Rohrbacher also won the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles Tuesday. On a day with near-perfect conditions to jump, Rohrbacher took advantage. "I don't know how many more 82-degree days with a tailwind you're gonna get," Burrows said. "Things have to fall in place... It's good for the kids to experience that, especially Zane." — 23JBurrz27 (@JBurrows27) April 6, 2021 Rohrbacher, a senior, has built himself up for this moment, Burrows said. Since Rohrbacher's freshman year, he hasn't missed a workout and he's put in the necessary time in the weight room. Pole vaulting requires a mix of strength and speed, and Rohrbacher's molded that during his high school career to reach this record-setting point. "He's been that kid that's been in the weight room literally for the last two or three years," Burrows said. "He never misses a lift. He never misses a workout. He doesn't complain." Rohrbacher also isn't opposed to new methods to improve his jumping. The Perkins coaches told him that competing in the hurdles might help, so that's what Rohrbacher has added for his senior year. He's yet to lose running a hurdles event, either. "He's just a hard-working kid that does a lot of things right," Burrows said. "He's one of the captains of our team, and he just keeps leading by example." On Tuesday, Rohrbacher's pole vault was slated for the end of the proceedings. First, he ran the two hurdles races and won both. Rohrbacher was also scheduled to be a part of Perkins' 1,600-meter relay, but because he kept jumping higher and higher, his pole vaulting wasn't done in time. So after the rest of the meet was over, Rohrbacher set a Perkins record, and now he's on to the next goal. "He's happy," Burrows said, "but he's not satisfied."