XAVIER Boland, the former CARIFTA Games and Boys’ Champs gold medallist, has his sights set on going higher after breaking the record with 4.42m in the pole vault open at the 38th staging of the Gibson Relays yesterday.

Boland, who posted a mark of 4.41 metres in 2012, overcame windy conditions to soar to a new height in the Wisynco-sponsored men’s pole vault open.

He told the Jamaica Observer that he is not satisfied, but not disappointed.

“I would be disappointed, but I am happy that I broke the record. There is still a lot of room for improvement and I intend filling that gap,” he said.

The 20-year-old who now represents GC Foster College, after erasing the two-year-old mark which he posted while attending high school, outlined that his next step will be the National Trials, as he hopes to qualify for the Commonwealth Games in Scotland later this year, and even making it to the medal podium.

The Kingston College old boy who represented Jamaica in the 50-metre freestyle as well as the 50- and 100-metre breaststroke in swimming at the CARIFTA Games, told how he became interested in vaulting.

“I stopped swimming from I was about 16 or 17, and found a liking for this particular event, that’s when I started grooming myself creatively and innovatively.

“I would like to thank Marlon Gayle, who is the throwing coach at Edwin Allen, and Dwayne Brown, who coaches at KC, for working with me,” he said.

Boland, after being offered multiple half-scholarships from universities in the United States, is expected to take up a full scholarship at Lindenwood University Two level.

— Sherdon Cowan