Emerging superstar pole vaulter Paul Migas is ready to show off this season
Last year at this time Paul Migas was a strong candidate for our future stars feature. We clearly overlooked him in that regard. Then it was several weekends ago at the Mecca of track and field at the Armory in New York City, the junior from Lake Villa Lakes HS showed out on the biggest stage- The Millrose Games!
Prior to Migas' landmark performance in New York in which he cleared 16 feet for the first time (16'0.75"), he cleared the 15-foot barrier last spring and won the 2A state title. It was then that he was noticed and a star was born. Migas would go on to take fourth at the New Balance Nationals Indoors and 2022 was a wrap.
In his first home meet of the season this past weekend, Migas might have been overly excited. The D117 Clash at the Coliseum created a huge buzz and he knew it. His starting height was 14'6" and he cleared it with ease. It took several attempts to get over 15 feet (later ruled as 14' 11"). That's where the day ended as attempts fell short at 15'6."
Migas has big plans this season like earning very high indoor national honors at NBNI and later making the U20 squad. This is another deep year in the pole vault in terms of the national scene. But it will all start by snatching the crown as the best overall pole vaulter in the state. There are potential landmines by the names of freshman phenom Isaiah Whitaker of Bloomington Central Catholic and the newly minted 16-foot club member Joshua Meister of Oak Park-River Forest.
All in all, it will be a great storyline and multiple headliners tracking Paul Migas!