Arizona Pole Vaulters Head to Nevada

Nicole Baker competes unattached last winter at the Air Force Open. Photo by Alan Versaw

Its official track is under way. Except for anyone racing at the US National Cross Country Championships in Boulder in early February, courses with grass and mud are over and done with for this school year. It is now time to focus our attention on the oval circle and all the fun events that go on inside of it.

Maybe the most thrilling of such events is the pole vault. What may look like gymnastics at the end of a stick over a really tall high jump bar to a casual observer is really a complex pairing of coordination, skill, strength and practice. It takes dedicated athletes to perform such movements with grace. Fresh off their solid performances in cross country Jeff Guy is taking on contingent of 20 pole vaulters from his track club, Ultimate High, to Reno Nevada. It is important to note, however, that these athletes will show up as unattached in the results since per Arizona state rules they can note compete for their high school during the indoor track season.

The National Pole Vault Summit, which as the name suggests draws athletes from a wide region, kicks off this Friday at the Reno Livestock Event Center. Anytime Desert Vista athletes take to track and field meets, they tend to set the arena on fire. If there is any remaining stench it will surely be burnt away. Jeff Guy is the defending national coach of the year, and his athletes will look to put represent the Grand Canyon state.

Milesplit Arizona wishes the Ultimate High TC the best of luck and will post results and run an article afterwards. Stay tuned for the post meet coverage!