Alden Bryson

Pole Vault Carolina Durham, NC

Owner and Head Coach: Jose R. San Miguel

In early 2020, Alden Bryson walked into a beginner’s clinic a 7th grade gymnast and walked out a pole vaulter.

When Covid interrupted her training two months later, she called Coach Jose and asked what she could do to keep progressing. Renting a pole, Alden performed drills in her back yard. She attended our Olympic Zoom calls, was first in line when we reopened, and did not complain about wearing a mask to practice in the sweltering North Carolina summer. Instead, Alden asked if she could train with the advanced vaulters. She is now one of them.

Alden attends practice 3 times a week and faithfully does our at home workouts on non-jump days. She has gotten stronger, faster, and has improved her personal best over and again. As an 8th grader she has a PR of 9’1” and is currently the second highest jumping middle schooler in North Carolina. She is on the All-Time list at the club, and will enter high school already the school record holder!

With the mind of a competitor and the heart of a champion, Alden stays until the end of every meet to cheer on her teammates. During the indoor season, Pole Vault Carolina hosted a 3 meet series in which our athletes were grouped into 4 teams to compete against one another. Alden, the youngest on her team, served as captain. She was the only athlete to PR at each of the 3 meets, scoring enough points for her team to win the challenge. Alden earned the MVP recognition of the series…. what else can you expect?

The goal for Alden going forward is to keep pole vault fun, improve the fundamentals, and enjoy her high school pole vault journey.

Photo provided by Pole Vault Carolina