- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Tifton Today
By the People, for the People
Tift County Athlete Sets New Pole Vault Record
Anthony Pace, Jr. breaks school record at Anthony Bateman Invitational
Mar. 11, 2026 at 10:23am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Senior Anthony Pace, Jr. of Tift County High School set a new school record in the pole vault event at the Anthony Bateman Invitational on Saturday, March 7. Pace cleared 13 feet, breaking the previous record of 12 feet and 6 inches set in 2021.
Why it matters
Pace's record-breaking performance is a significant achievement for the Tift County track and field program, as it demonstrates the school's ability to develop elite-level talent in the pole vault event. The record also serves as a source of pride for the local community and highlights the hard work and dedication of the student-athlete.
The details
Pace, who previously played football and wrestling, credits his head coach Javier Clark for encouraging him to try track and field, where he eventually found his passion for pole vaulting. Pace had been chasing the record all season, tying the previous mark three times before finally breaking it at the invitational.
- Pace set the new school record of 13 feet on March 7, 2026 at the Anthony Bateman Invitational.
- The previous record of 12 feet and 6 inches was set by Mason Compton in 2021.
The players
Anthony Pace, Jr.
A senior at Tift County High School who set a new school record in the pole vault event.
Javier Clark
The head coach of the Tift County track and field team who encouraged Pace to try the sport and eventually found his passion for pole vaulting.
Mason Compton
The previous record holder in the pole vault event, setting the mark of 12 feet and 6 inches in 2021.
What they’re saying
“It means a lot to me because I moved here in seventh grade. I wasn't from here, so to have a legacy here, to leave a legacy here, as I'm graduating this year, it just means a lot to me. I hope one of my underlings, one of my proteges, can come by and break it because then that means they earned it. They achieved it, but as long as it's up, I have something here to hold on to. It just means a lot to me. It lets them know that I came through here.”
— Anthony Pace, Jr., Senior
“He [Clark] just kind of pushed me, kind of invited me back down. He was like, 'You should come try track and field,' and that's where my love for it kind of started. I started out running the 800, trying different things. I wasn't really good at anything. Eventually I picked up the pole, and it just kind of clicked from there.”
— Anthony Pace, Jr., Senior
“I think it's the adrenaline rush that, because I'm an adrenaline junkie, snowboarding, parachuting, all those things. There's something about trusting a pole to throw you 13-14 feet in the air, come over a bar and come fly straight back down. That's kind of my favorite part—coming down after you clear the bar. It's just something freeing about it, knowing you did it. You're safe. You just enjoy the ball.”
— Anthony Pace, Jr., Senior
What’s next
With more meets still to come, Pace hopes he can set a new personal best before the season ends.
The takeaway
Pace's record-breaking performance demonstrates the dedication and hard work of the Tift County track and field program, as well as the ability of the school to develop elite-level talent in specialized events like the pole vault.
