Retellings reveal details of the deciding event at the county championship.
The Plant City High School (PCHS) Boy’s Track Team had never won a county championship trophy. April 2 at the 2025 Vernon Korhn Hillsborough County Championships, the determination of who would be the victor of the 28-team competition came down to the final event—the pole vault.
“Dwele Morris, a freshman, took third in the pole vault to bring Plant City to within eight points,” Coach Brian Brubaker recounted. “Hearing the announcer with this information, Christian White was up next. He knew he needed to win his event to win the meet and make history. For Christian, it was the equivalent of being in the fourth quarter with :03 seconds left, and he was getting the ball. It was that situation we all dreamed of as kids—that chance to win it—to be the best team that day.”
“At the county meet, it was a long day,” senior Christian White said when giving his account. “We had been out there since noon. We got to warm up at 4:00. My warm ups were pretty good, and I was really excited.” The meet started winding down. While officials were counting the points, the bar was raised to 12’6”. White’s competitor cleared the height on his first try. “I was a little slow because I was there all day, but I was doing all right,” White said. “Then we cleared 13’ on our second attempts. The point totals came over the loudspeaker Wharton – 67, Sickles – 67, Plant City 59. So, if I scored eight points, which would be second place, it would be a three-way tie for the men’s team, and we wouldn’t win it. My coach was telling me I needed more speed down the runway. On my approach, I run down, and when I get to the box, everything felt good, then suddenly there was this giant pop, and the pole broke into pieces.”
“He rag-dolled through the air, and into the mat, landing on his head,” Brubaker continued. “His thigh and hand were now bruised immensely. Trainers rushed to the scene and determined that he could continue…if he was able. I asked him if he could continue, he said, ‘Yeah, I’m going.’ I could tell his hand was hurting badly.”
“I felt fine at first—maybe it was the adrenaline,” White said. “They told me to lay there for a minute. The pole shook up my left arm. It was hurting, I couldn’t feel my fingers. It scratched my left leg. I was a little shaky, but I was alright. So, I had to move down poles. I was thinking, ‘Hopefully I don’t snap this one. I need to get first—this is what my team needs to win it. If I win this, I win for the team. I win the county championship.’
“Favoring his hand, he grabbed a new pole, lined up on the runway, and in pain, began his approach,” Brubaker said. “The weight of 20 others, and history, were on his back.”
“I cleared it on the first attempt,” White said. “The bar hits me in the chest on the way down. It shakes a little bit, but it stays up.
“The pole plant was perfect,” Brubaker said. “He went vertical, clearing the bar 13’6” above the ground. On his way down, his chest hit the bar….it bounced and shook for what seemed like an eternity. We thought all was lost, until it finally rested still, atop the standards.”
“I am waiting, because I am first, but if the other guy clears it, we have to go up another height,” White said. “If we go up another height, I am still going to have to get it done.” White’s remaining competitor missed on his attempts. “After that, my whole team starts celebrating. The coaches start celebrating, saying, ‘You just won us a county championship!’ I was really excited, but I didn’t show it much. The adrenaline was pumping and I felt really good. We were really excited.”
“Christian White won the meet to cheers of the several hundred watching,” Brubaker said. “Today he is a hero—a man amongst boys and a county champion. He made us feel like we were the best in the universe….I wish you could’ve seen it; We’ll never forget it!”
Other PCHS Athletes earned points to get the team’s win:
Boys 4x800m relay – 3rd – 6 points. (Kameron Kropp, Julian Andrews, Derek Torres Burgos, Fabian Sosa. Set a new school record with 8:12.4).
Boys High Jump – 2nd – 8 points (Jamin Andrews); 3rd – 6 points (Gavin Tinsley).
Boys Triple Jump – 2nd – 8 points (Gavin Tinsley); 7th – 2 points (Jamin Andrews).
Boys 4x100m relay – 4th – 5 points (Marcellus Preston, Kahiem Carby, Zarian Woodley, Treon Williams, Adrien Urena – alternate who competed).
The top four in each event f qualify for the District meet on April 22. PCHS is hosting the Regional meet on May 3. Field events start at 9:00 a.m. and track starts at 1:00 p.m. Tickets are $12.
