In most cases, track and field athletes are separated by field events and running events, but senior Nick Lachut excels in both aspects of the sport.
Lachut has been a standout out for pole vaulting the last two years. He won the individual WPIAL championship for the event in outdoor season track.
“Knowing I’m a WPIAL champion is very humbling. I never thought I would ever be in the position that I am in now,” Lachut said.
Lachut also participates in multiple running events. This indoor season he plans to run the 4×200 meter relay. During the outdoor season he plans on adding the 4×400 meter relay and the 300 meter hurdles.
“I plan on doing all of these events, and whatever the coaches need me to do for the team throughout the season,” he said.
Junior runner Brendan O’Malley praised Lachut for being able to excel in both aspects of the sport.
“It’s crazy that he can be so successful in the field, and still contribute on the running side of things,” O’Malley said.
Junior teammate Jared Koenig was watching when Lachut made the jump to win the WPIAL championship.
“I didn’t think he was going to get it, but he proved me wrong,” Koenig said.
While being a standout on the track, Lachut also contributes to the team off the field.
“I try to push everyone as best as I can to be the best at whatever it is they are doing,” Lachut said.
Koenig recognizes how good of a teammate Lachut has been during his time vaulting with him.
“Nick is just a fun guy to be around,” Koenig said, “but he knows when to be serious and give us tips and he just makes everyone around him better.”
Indoor track season is different from the outdoor season in that all of the meets are multi-school events held on Saturdays at Edinboro University. There are no smaller meets in which two or three schools face off, as there are in outdoor track.
Lachut feels that he has accomplished a lot, but there is more work to be done.
“This indoor season, my goal is to place at states and this outdoor season I want to defend my WPIAL title and set the school pole vault record,” Lachut said.
Lachut believes that his teammates and coaches are what got him to where he is today.