PoleVaultPower.com

I've read about the fastest.....who's the slowesat mps and best jump?? :D

In General speed is a good thing in the pole vault. HOWEVER, i have seen some slow vaulters, J. Scott, has a slower invert, however he gets everything in line and has so manythings going right for him that he jump huge bars.

Bob Shank...enough said...

At the time of his first 5.80, Hartwig was the slowest to ever clear that high.

achtungpv wrote:At the time of his first 5.80, Hartwig was the slowest to ever clear that high.

so the realist in me is wondering how Jeff Hartwig goes from being the slowest ever to clear 5.80 (if that is indeed the case) to being the fastest american vaulter (study shown at reno by mcginnis et al) running at 9.30+ mps on the runway...

hmmmmmmmmmmmm....

I hate to even begin to believe it, but you do have to wonder how his speed increased that dramatically after the age of 30 (if i'm not mistaken his first 80 jump was at the 96 trials, correct?)

hotdam wrote:

achtungpv wrote:At the time of his first 5.80, Hartwig was the slowest to ever clear that high.

so the realist in me is wondering how Jeff Hartwig goes from being the slowest ever to clear 5.80 (if that is indeed the case) to being the fastest american vaulter (study shown at reno by mcginnis et al) running at 9.30+ mps on the runway...

hmmmmmmmmmmmm....

I hate to even begin to believe it, but you do have to wonder how his speed increased that dramatically after the age of 30 (if i'm not mistaken his first 80 jump was at the 96 trials, correct?)

well i have read an article about jeff seeing the results of a meet were he was the slowest down the runway. so he began working on his speed on the runway and a couple years later he was setting american records. i have a video progression of him from senior year in college until he made 6.03 and you could definately see the difference not only in his run but the pure agressiveness down the runway. it used to look like he was trotting down the runway and now he just brings it!

Pete Kovacs

I 2nd the Pete Kovacs motion. The former Hungarian National Champ was with me from high school through UC Irvine. Our standard comments on his speed were -
1) in a race against a pregnant lady he would get 3rd.
2) I time his sprints with a sun dial
3) he came in 3rd to watching grass grow and paint dry

With that said, never met a better attitude or a kid who worked harder for longer!! Fantastic guy!! Bubba

long live pete kovacs!!!


bubba- i remember the saying " you look like a water buffalo"....

Funny BJ and thanks for reminding me. We probably don't need to print the "other encouragements" we all gave Pete! He's the only vaulter I ever worked with who demanded negative criticism to motivate himself. What a great guy!! LOL!! Bubba

haha those are some great quotes for slow people... nice guys.

You know i vote for pete
here is some video of pete at long beach state all-comers
it is 9 mb

http://higherflyers.org/pete_lb.mov