An elevated, neon green pole wrapped in duct tape can be an intimidating sight.

Especially when you strain your neck to look up at it from a height of 2.03 meters -- or six feet eight inches.

It's that exact height Ashford University track and field standout A.J. Smith conquered.

With one record-breaking leap, Smith recently became the Midwest Collegiate Conference indoor high jump champion and surpassed the provisional mark to become an automatic qualifier at the NAIA National Championships in March.

Smith separated himself from Aaron Burns' leap of 1.98m, a school record that had held up for three years. His indoor sophomore year to date has been catalyzed by individual titles in nearly event the Saints have competed in.

But he was able to succinctly categorize his newest feat into one word.

"Awesome," Smith raved.

"It all came together that one day (at the MCC Championships)," he said. "I was tingling with adrenaline from that meet, especially when my teammates and family were cheering for me. I was like, ‘whoa', what just happened? I've been stuck on 6-6 for a while."

Growing up in Port Byron, Ill., he drew confidence from renowned legend, Floyd "Bud" Smith, a world-class jumper who is one of the first athletes credited to clear seven feet. His infamous 1957 jumpoffs against former NBA basketball star Wilt Chamberlain are still widely circulated throughout YouTube (Click here).

"It just showed me even more that I can do anything I put my mind to," said Smith, who measures in at 6-2. "I've been privileged to have breakfast with him (Bud Smith) and he took me to his house and showed me some memorabilia. He definitely gave me a lot of inspiration."

By the time Smith was in seventh grade, he cleared five feet, four inches. The next year he toppled the five foot, 10-inch height.

Smith could dunk on a regulation hoop on the basketball court in middle school, but the funny thing is, he tried track only because he couldn't go out for baseball.

"I loved to jump high and touch the rims on hoops," he said. "I thought I'd better give jumping a try."

Smith's grade-school talent carried over to his career at Riverdale High School and morphed into the special realization that he could pursue a collegiate career.

But listening to A.J. and his passion for "climbing the sky", one starts to understand that high jump a sport with such a meticulous science that everything from speed to twisting of the body and point of liftoff is paramount to a successful run.

Smith went on to describe his approach and the 10-to-12 steps before he goes airborne, beginning with bounding and eventually accelerating into an explosion.

Included in his pre-jump routine are a pair of symbolic bracelets and several inscriptions on his shoes he refers to. He taps his toes and rubs the bracelets and clicks the back of his heels.

You might even be able to find him at Pizza Hut the night before the meet.

"I get real excited the night before a meet so it's hard to fall asleep," he said. But he added with a laugh, "That's where the pizza comes into play."

While Smith will spend the beginning of March in Johnson City, Tenn., with some of his teammates among the nation's best, he is anxious for the outdoor season to get underway where he throws javelin.

Smith and the rest of the Saints' faithful are anxiously waiting to see what height he reaches next.