Sometimes, I predict the future. While attending the Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships in Mexico last week, I met Julius Rivera, a sprinter who lives in PA but who represents Puerto Rico. Julius’ father used to hurdle at the University of Puerto Rico. Julius was there to run the 100 and 200 meter races. He admitted that he intended to scratch the 200. I challenged Julius to reconsider his position. What if you false start in the 100 mm? What…
We strap the pole bag to the top of the truck with bungees, double check the tape, sticky spray, spikes, jersey, water, snacks, gas money, ear phones and protein bars. Poles for long approach, short approach, and the pole our athletes dream of grabbing after they have surmounted their personal record. It’s go time. Time for the long rides and the opportunity to witness our athletes try once again to push themselves against a higher bar. It’s time to show…
My first exposure to track and field came during the 1979 Pan American Games in Puerto Rico. I witnessed greatness from athletes and coaches even though I had no real comprehension of the magnitude of their feats. It was then that I decided track was going to be my future. Among those whom I saw were Renaldo the hurdler, Carl the long jumper, Willie and Joao the triple jumpers, and Juan the 400/800 runner. Also, I met a coach named Wilbur.…
When Megan Comstock first started vaulting, she began like all beginners, jumping about 6′. Early on, during a frustrating practice when she did not believe she would ever improve, Coach Jose bet she would clear 8′ by the end of her freshman season. And if she did, he would dye his hair purple, a nod to Megan who has a purple streak on the under side of her brown ponytail. Megan jumped 8’7″ as a freshman, and 11’3″ as a sophomore,…
In a sport that defies gravity, and is performed on equipment that deteriorates in weather, safety is a high priority. While dangers lurk for those running on the track, they are amplified for the daring few who feel a higher calling. A vocal advocate for pole vault safety, Coach Jose San Miguel recently trained the coaches at the North Carolina Track & Cross Country Coaches Conference. With an in-depth curricula, Jose instructed high school coaches from North Carolina and Virginia on starting a new…
She used to play left bench in basketball. Fiercely independent, she wanted her own sport, and we let her choose. Then a pole vault pit turned up in the side yard, the runway beneath her bedroom window. Vaulters started coming to the house for practice, and invited her to jump with them. She picked up a pole. Turns out those long legs are good for something other than playing post. They are powerful propellers of speed and launch, and in…
Pole vault super star Brad Walker recently visited Pole Vault Carolina and taught these two how to get upside down. He led the young athletes in drills and pole carries. Brad gave as much attention to State Champ Ian West… as he did to our youngest vaulter, Antonio, age 6. He gave every athlete valuable feedback… and he stayed late in the freezing cold so these guys will have their best shot at a great season. Brad posed for photos,…
