Marino went above and beyond for Hatboro-Horsham

Nicholas Marino’s season-long quest finished up with one shining afternoon at Shippensburg University.

“It’s worth it,” the Hatboro-Horsham junior would say of his battle in the sun, which earned him the PIAA Class AAA silver medal. “It was worth it.”

The Hatters’ outstanding pole vaulter was a constant all year, delivering in dual meets, invitationals and lastly in a very satisfying postseason run, earning Marino Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year honors from Montgomery News.

“Once outdoor season came, I had to get used to our northern cold, windy and rainy meets,” Marino remembers, thinking back to those tough days in March, “but once I was adapted, I was able to get back on the larger poles and start to climb the heights again.

“I pushed another personal record of 15-6 at the Shipp Invite. I really enjoyed this meet because all the big PA competitors were there. We are all friends and push each other to our best. At that meet, my training had started to pay off with a big win.”

A foreshadowing of things to come, it would be the first of two impressive showings at Shipp. Marino then had to tackle some adversity.

“I got an injury the meet after (the Shipp Invite) and had trouble getting back to my longer approach, which caused me to struggle to get onto my bigger poles,” the junior said, “and therefore, it was hard to get back to the 15’ bars and beyond.

“By districts and states, the injury had started to feel better. At states, I grabbed two new poles when I pushed another PR jump of 15-9, which gave me second place and qualified me for Championship Division Nationals in N.C. I was happy I was able to peak when it counted at the end big meets.”

In the state’s premiere competition, Marino out-performed fellow medalists Hayden Fox of Hempfield (15-9, number of misses), Caleb Sanford of McDowell (15-3), Payton Morris of East Pennsboro (14-9), Gregory

Potter of Red Lion (14-9), Dave Johnston of Baldwin (14-9) and David Kelly of Pine-Richland (14-9).

Marino wasn’t finished.

He went onto Nationals down in North Carolina, placing 13th.

“Being at Outdoor Nationals was a super experience,” said the rising senior. “I met some great jumpers and had a lot of fun. I was very happy to clear my highest start bar so far of 14-9 on first attempt, with the headwinds whipping.

“Anytime you get into these huge meets and make higher start bars, it increases your confidence exponentially. I enjoy the challenge, pressure and adrenaline of the big meets.”

And it showed.

On the way to states, Marino earned the gold medal in District One Class AAA, as he cleared 14-9.

Marino was solid in all weather. On a much colder day at The Penn Relays back in April, the junior vaulted to a sixth-place finish in the High School Boys Championship, clearing 13 feet, 11 and a quarter inches.

Marino came into the spring riding some pretty hefty momentum from the indoor season.

“I was getting consistent with my heights and getting very confident for the state meet,” he said. “I put up a personal best of 15-0 at PA States, which was exciting for me.”
Marino then cleared 15 feet again at Easterns, held at The Armory.

“That qualified me for the Championship Division of Indoor Nationals, where I was happy with my solid performance,” said the Hatter. “This really helped me get over some road blocks and set me up for a great outdoor season.”

An outdoor season that took him all the way to the state medal stand.

“My junior year has been amazing,” Marino said. “From pushing my PR 1.6 feet, to qualifying to both indoor and outdoor Nationals, and competing with new and old friends, I really enjoyed it,” he said. “I’m psyched for this summer and next year to keep pushing my PR to greater heights.

“I am always hungry for more,” the Hatter standout said. “Pole vault is hard that way because you always finish on a fall — it makes you keep wanting more. I feel blessed to be in this sport and have so many people to thank for all my support.”