Becker almost did not compete in the event after an injury just prior to his event.

“Actually my warm-up was pretty (bad),” Becker said. “I ended up crashing in warm-up and I wasn’t going to jump. I did a warm-up jump after that to see how my arm was, and it felt all right.”

Starpoint coach Brian Lasher called the windy Wilson weather not ideal conditions for vaulting. Despite that, it looked like two Spartan vaulters would break the meet mark, as Becker and Taylor were the final two competitors left in the competition. They both missed twice at 13-6 before Becker cleared the height on his final attempt, while Taylor missed.

“He’s some good motivation,” Becker said of Taylor. “He gets me to clear heights. I don’t like to lose. It’s good to have somebody to jump with. He jumps high, he’s a good practice partner, a good friend.”

Becker cleared 13-8 to set the meet record, and then cleared 14-2.

Three subsequent attempts at 14-6 failed. Becker’s personal best is 14-3.

“I want to hit 15 before I graduate. That’s my main goal,” Becker said, adding that he would like to make a return trip to the state track and field meet at the end of the season. He placed fourth last year and hopes to finish even higher this year.

“He should be the favorite. He has the highest outdoor height,” Anastasi said of Becker’s chances at the Sectionals, where winners earn their trip to states. Becker established the top mark In Western New York this season.