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Sparklight Male Athlete Of The Month: Colby Goetten Breaks Jersey Pole Vault Record Held Since 1977

Sophomore vaulter places 22nd at state track and field meet, has bright future for the Panthers.

Dan Brannan, Content Director

Jun 3, 2026 10:39 AM Jun 3, 2026 2:48 PM

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JERSEYVILLE — Jersey sophomore Colby Goetten capped his pole vault season with a personal best of 13 feet, 5.75 inches on May 1, 2026, at the Jokisch-Grandone Invite and later placed 22nd at the Illinois High School Association 2A Boys Track and Field Meet this past weekend, where he cleared 12-11.5.

Colby Goetten is a Sparklight Male Athlete Of The Month for the Panthers.

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Goetten, who also competed on Jersey’s 4x200 and 4x400 relays during the season, finished fifth at the Triad Sectional with a clearance of 12-8.75 and was second at the Mississippi Valley Conference meet at the same height.

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His performance at the Jokisch-Grandone Invite also broke the Jersey school record in the pole vault. The previous record of 13 feet had stood since 1977 and was held by Max Dixon.

“Colby’s success in the pole vault comes from a relentless drive to improve; he’s never satisfied and is always pushing for more,” Toni Goetten, Colby’s mother and Jersey boys and girls track and field coach, said. “Even as a sophomore, he’s competing right alongside the best juniors and seniors in the area. I couldn’t be more proud of him, not just as his coach, but as his mom.”

Before high school, Goetten placed third in the 1A elementary state in both seventh and eighth grade while attending Saint Francis-Holy Ghost School in Jersey.