Erick Duffy could feel something special was approaching as he ran down the runway.
As he lifted himself into the air, the recent North Andover High graduate knew everything felt right.
And as he sailed over the bar and fell back down to earth, his mind raced with joy and excitement about a dream that had finally come true.
He was a national champion.
Duffy pole vaulted a stunning 17-1 to take the gold medal at the New Balance National Outdoor Championship on Sunday in Greensboro, N.C.
“I was just overwhelmed,” said Duffy. “I couldn’t believe I had actually done it. Everything I have worked for over the last four years, all the hours of work and all of the practices were all worth it. I knew I would be close, but I knew I would have to give it my all to be a champion.”
The height not only shattered his own Eagle-Tribune area and Massachusetts state record of 16-7 he set two weeks ago, but also broke the New England record of 16-9.
The 17-1 was the ninth best vault in the country this season, and was a stunning 17 inches better than No. 2 in the Eagle-Tribune area record books, Jake Radzevich of Pinkerton’s 15-8 in 2002.
“When I was a freshman a reporter asked me what my goal was for my career,” remembered the Harvard-bound Duffy. “I told him it was 17 feet. So three years later to say that I finally reached that goal, and doing it while winning a national title is overwhelming. It really is surreal.”
The winning vault, and later when he was called to the podium, were emotional moments for more than just Duffy.
“I get choked up just thinking about it,” said longtime North Andover coach Steve Nugent. “For a guy that has done everything in his power to help his teammates over the last four years, today was all about him.
“He is arguably the best athlete ever to come through North Andover High, in such a technically demanding event. He has done everything and made so many sacrifices to be the best.
“I was with his parents and his coaches from Harvard, and when he made the jump there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. I am so happy for him and his family.”
Despite the temperature reaching into the low 90s, Duffy said he was determined make his final day as a Scarlet Knight special.
“I woke up feeling like this was going to be the day,” said Duffy. “It was hot, but there was a nice tailwind right at our backs. I missed my first attempt at my first height, but I was feeling great after that.”
Duffy hit 15-9.25 on his second try, cleared 16-1.25 on his first attempt then took two tries to clear 16-5.
Next up, he cleared 16-9.25 on his first attempt, setting the records and clinching the national title, with no one else matching that height.
“That felt amazing because I had been so close to that height and had just missed at New Englands,” he said. “I was so thrilled to win, but I knew I wasn’t done there.”
On his second attempt, Duffy sailed over 17-1. That tied him for ninth overall for high schoolers in the country this spring.
“It was the best feeling I have ever had in sports,” said Duffy, who also anchored the shuttle hurdles that placed seventh in the top division, one spot shy of All-American status.
“I just got up and was smiling so big. I was pointing to my parents and coaches in the stands. There were times I didn’t think I would make 17 feet. I was always afraid of plateauing.
“But this year, and specifically this season, I really buckled down and did all the things my coaches and I thought would get me over that height. And now that I’ve done it, every second was worth it.”
Duffy was then called to the winner’s platform, received his medal, and was fitted for the engraved national title ring that will be sent to him.
“It didn’t really hit me until after all of that,” said Duffy. “It means everything to me. Everything that my parents and coaches have done for me, everything I have worked for, everything came together on this day and made the dream come true.”
Reach sportswriter/videographer David Willis on Twitter at @DWillisET
