Pole Vault

Pole Vault: Undoubtedly the most dangerous field event offered in high school and also one of the most iconic events in track. That's why most medals for track have a person running on them and a person pole vaulting next to it. It's probably the most iconic event due how fun it looks. Just imagine it. You're standing in front of a bunch of people with a long pole in your hands. You're bouncing back and forth from the front of your foot to the back of your foot just waiting for the right time to take off. Once you take off you sprint toward a bar positioned 11 feet in the air and ram your pole into the ground and find yourself trying to bend and wiggle over that bar (reminding you that you're 11+ feet in the air) and free falling down to the soft, plush mats below.

Now that sounds like a lot of fun but it's easier to imagine it than to actually do it. To be a good pole vaulter you need lots of upper body and core strength. Flexibility never hurt anyone, but getting up to the bar is your first task. To start off pole vaulting you need to get down your steps just like high jump or long jump. The only exception is that at the end of your steps you plant your pole and jump instead of only jumping. Once you get a good plant all you have to do is ride that pole to the top and try to dance your way over the bar. More advanced pole vaulters like Lisa Metzger, collegiate athletes, and professionals try to bend the pole on their way up to the bar so that way they get "sling-shoted" up and over the bar, rather than trying to wiggle over it. 

Cadillac Track's best pole vaulter, Lisa Metzger,  was on of the best pole vaulters in our region for track and field. She made an appearance at the MHSSA Track and Field state meet last year which is phenomenal considering you have to place within the top two at regionals or meet the state standard. The state standard is a set height or time for each event that if beaten qualifies an individual for the state meet. So that way if the winner of pole vault jumps 12 ft. and second and third place both jump 11 ft. 6 inches (but second place beats third place by attempts) all three girls go to states! Lisa's tips on how to be a good pole vaulter include lots of all around strength in the core, legs and upper body. Her next tip is practice, practice, practice. Lisa's takes a lot of her time to pole vault, no matter what season it is! 

On the funny side of pole vaulting seeing kids wipe out is hilarious. It's also pretty scary to watch but depending on how severe the wipe out is determines whether it's comical or frightful. If you've ever watched YouTube or TV before you've probably seen somebody wipe out while pole vaulting. An example of a funny video I saw was when a girl tried to plant her pole an ended up missing the plant and hitting the official on accident. It was more of an embarrassing moment than a wipe out but anything more intense than that just makes me cringe. So if you're ever pole vaulting remember the wise words of R.L. Stine, "Jumper beware! You're in for a scare!"