This past weekend, red-shirt freshman Mick Viken proved to the world that he is definitely a top contender in the men’s pole vault event.

The Panthers took their talents to one of the longest running and most famous track and field events in the country, the 84th annual Kansas Relays.

The four-day event saw competitors from all over the country and planet of all ages and skill levels competing against each other.

I know I’ve talked a lot about Viken this year, but honestly, how can you not?

He’s having a truly spectacular year.

Ever since he broke the Eastern indoor pole vault record at the end of the indoor season at the Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Championships, Viken has been on another level.

He broke the school’s outdoor record in the first meet of the season, followed it up the next week by breaking it again, and this week he came just short of doing it a third time.

I think what makes this weekend different from Viken’s previous meets is the level of competition.

I’d say it’s a safe bet to say that everyone competing in that event knew the man to beat: Jordan Scott of Kansas.

Scott is an All-American, a national champion, and all-around beast.

So of course, for Scott, a senior, his last time competing in Lawrence, Kan., was going to be one to remember.

With the impact he’s already made on Kansas track and field, there was no way he wasn’t going to go out without a final bang.

Scott won the event, but what I think a lot of people will look past is that he and Viken had the same height, Scott just had less attempts, giving him the edge in the end.

Viken had the height, he just needed a few more tries to get there.

It’s scary to think that Viken is only a freshman and essentially competing at the same level as Scott, a senior and doubtlessly one of the best.

It is hoped Viken doesn’t run out of gas after this year and he can keep vaulting higher and higher and keep distancing himself further and further from the next best times not only in the Eastern record books, but in the national rankings.

Speaking of national rankings, right now Viken is tied for fifth with a few other guys while Scott stands alone at No. 3.

I think it’s safe to say that after this weekend’s big splash at the Kansas Relays, Viken may be on a few more people’s lists, and definitely on the list of guys the Wisconsin Badgers would like back.

Dominic Renzetti can be reached at 581-7944 or at dcrenzetti@eiu.edu.