Greg Potter is back on track

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By Rachel Lau
Senior Editor

Senior Greg Potter has vaulted his way through track since his freshman year. Every season was eventful, with both awards and injuries. 
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Potter wanted to do track and field because he was a cross country runner and desired to run distance. So, when joining the track team, he didn’t expect to become a pole vaulter. 

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"The pole vaulting coach Coach Emily Young said ‘You’re gonna do this,’” Potter said jokingly, “I was forced to do it.” 

During his freshman year, Potter broke his arm in gymnastics, causing a setback for all of the sports he participated in including cross country and track.

Going into his sophomore year, Potter’s vertebrae were shifted due to pole vaulting. 

When he reached his junior year, he walked away with zero injuries. He thought he might finally be in the clear, but was surprised to find yet another injury entering his senior year. 

A stress fracture had formed in his foot, causing him to miss cross country season and wear a boot for a few months, but was able to pole vault in track.

Despite the string of injuries, Potter has been to a various amount of both championship and national levels for track. 

He placed first at the Millrose Games, counties, districts, and second at indoor Nationals Emerging Elite. He also won sixth at states and attended the outdoor nationals. 

At counties in 2016, Potter broke the school record for pole vaulting that was 13.9ft, and got 15 ft.

Today, he is back on track and pole vaulting once again. He has never let any of the injuries stop him from doing what he loves. 
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“My motivation was to jump higher,” Potter said. “That’s what kept me going.”
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Potter will continue his track career in pole vaulting at Eastern Michigan University. ​