Hillsdale College senior Cass Dobrowolski, a men's track and field athlete, soared to new heights on Friday night, and it didn't go unnoticed.

Dobrowolski broke both Hillsdale and the G-MAC's indoor high jump record with a clearance of 2.20 meters on Friday to win the Findlay Opener, a performance that the G-MAC recognized with their Men's Field Athlete of the Week honor on Monday afternoon. It's Dobrowolski's first weekly conference honor of the season, and the second of his career.

Dobrowolski's clearance shattered his old personal best of 2.14 meters and broke a 31-year old school record held jointly by multi-time All-American Dan Gifford, set in 1981, and two-time NAIA national champion Jim McHugh, set in 1993. It's also higher than the best all-time mark in the event of 2.19 meters, set outdoors by Dan Gifford in 1981, and higher than the G-MAC record of 2.19 meters set by Tiffin's Cameron Burrows in 2019.

At 7 feet, 2 and a half inches, Dobrowolski's jump is putting him in rare company in the nation in the high jump. The mark is currently the second best mark in NCAA DII and the second best mark across all divisions of the NCAA, beating all the current best jumps at the NCAA DI level. It's also just four centimeters off the automatic qualifying standard for the 2025 USA Track and Field Indoor Championships slated to take place in February, putting him in contention to compete against the best in the nation in the event regardless of age.

The record has been a long time coming for Dobrowolski, a two-time G-MAC outdoor champion in the high jump and two-time NCAA DII Outdoor Championship meet qualifier as well. The mark all but ensures he will get to compete in his first indoor championship, slated to take place in Indianapolis, Indiana in March. With that berth locked up, Dobrowolski can turn his focus to increasing his record, and preparing to peak in the national championship meet in March. 

Hillsdale now heads into winter break, and will next take to the track on January 18 in Indianapolis, Indiana for the Hoosier Horsepower Classic.