Free State's Tim Malcolm prepares to make a jump in the pole vault. Malcolm finished the state meet second with a jump of 14-6 on Saturday at Cessna Stadium in Wichita.

Wichita ? To think, just last year Free State High senior Tim Malcolm didn’t even medal at the Kansas Class 6A state meet in the pole vault. And here he is, a year later planning to walk on for the Kansas State track and field program after placing second this year.

“The whole season I’ve been thinking that I really want to get up on the podium,” Malcolm said. “I didn’t know if it would be second place, first place or seventh place. I really wanted to get that first-place gold medal, but I’m all right with second place. I came real close. He (first-place finisher Nico Yoch from Shawnee Mission North) had one attempt left and I thought I had him, but nope, he pulled it out.”

Malcolm didn’t have a successful performance in his last time in Cessna Stadium, but on Saturday he not only took second but he also set a personal record by clearing 14 feet, 6 inches.

“I came in today thinking that if I could at least hit every height on the first attempt, that I’d place pretty high and I did that,” Malcolm said. “I was shaking all week long with anticipation so it’s nice to get this.”

The nerves weren’t only reserved to Malcolm.

“It was kind of nervous for me going into state,” FSHS pole vault coach John Olson said. “Starting out, things didn’t go quite as well as we thought they would, so it was nice for Tim to have a really nice day.”

Malcolm is hoping to use his strong senior season to propel into the Kansas State program next year.

“They have a pretty good vault program, so it’ll probably be pretty tough to get in there,” the Free State vaulter said. “I’ve been think about doing this all season long, at least.

This summer I was working with the coach and that’s when I really started investing a lot more time into it – time and money. That’s when the idea really began to formulate.”

And having a second-place finish on his resume won’t hurt when walking on for the Wildcats.

“I think it’s going to show coaches that I prepare well for big events and that I’m mentally tough and can stand the pressure,” Malcolm said. “I can still perform and exceed my previous performances, even under the circumstances.”