An amazing season continued for junior Brian O’Sullivan during the NJSIAA Meet of Champions on March 4 at the Bennett Indoor Athletic Complex in Toms River.
O’Sullivan made history as the first Hillsborough High School boys pole vaulter to place first at the winter track edition of the Meet of Champions, securing a gold medal with his jump of 15 feet.
“It felt good,” O’Sullivan said about placing first at the Meet of Champions. “I was very happy to win and become a state champion.”
Earlier this winter, O’Sullivan etched his name into the Hillsborough record books when he jumped a personal best 16-0.25 feet at the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group IV Tournament to become a sectional champion.
The mark set a new school record and was also the highest mark ever reached during the event in the history of the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group IV Tournament in winter track.
O’Sullivan followed his history-making performance at the sectional tournament by placing first at the NJSIAA Group IV Tournament on Feb. 26.
The trifecta of gold was now the mission for O’Sullivan heading into the NJSIAA Meet of Champions.
Despite dealing with a groin injury, O’Sullivan fought through the pain to complete the trifecta and accomplish his goal of becoming a state champion.
Accomplishing that feat is something O’Sullivan said he is very proud of. He hopes the standard of excellence he has set this winter in the pole vault for the Hillsborough boys track and field program with be something other more students that come through the ranks will continue in the future.
“It feels great to be someone people can look up to,” O’Sullivan added.
Right by his side to help O’Sullivan celebrate his outstanding achievement was his brother and fellow Hillsborough pole vaulter, Kevin, who also competed at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions.
Kevin earned a silver medal at the both sectional and group tournaments this winter for the Raiders.
Also involved in the celebration with the brothers was their father, Edward, who is a former pole vaulter himself.
For the last five years, the two brothers have bonded over the sport of pole vaulting and the success they’ve had together.
“It’s a real thrill being able to launch yourself in the air,” Brian O’Sullivan said of pole vaulting. “You always want to go higher and achieve another good. It’s a lot of fun.”
Brian O’Sullivan will finish out his junior winter track campaign this weekend when he competes at the New Balance Nationals Indoor Track meet being held at the New York Armory, saying he looks forward to competing alongside the best pole vaulters in the country and learning from them.
The spring track season will follow for Brian O’Sullivan, who will look to bring the same success he has had indoors this winter outside and cap off his junior year with a stellar spring track season.
Never imagining that he would be a state champion when he began pole vaulting five years ago, Brian O’Sullivan said he is very happy with the success he’s had in the sport over the years and will always remember his junior winter track campaign.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” he said.