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RIGHT NOW N O T H I N G E L S E VAULTER
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MATTERS TIME TO FLY
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CONTENTS y r a b ru Fe
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FROM THE EDITOR
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THE LEGEND OF SERGEY BUBKA
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AUBURN UNIVERSITY’S JESSIE JOHNSON: WHERE PRESTIGE MEETS PASSION
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COMMON INJURIES IN WEIGHTLIFTING AND HOW TO PREVENT THEM
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EVERYTHING IS BIGGER IN TEXAS
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INTERVIEW WITH ONE OF THE PREMIER SPORTS PSYCHOLOGISTS IN THE WORLD, ROBERT ANDREWS
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Cover photo by Josh Wetzel
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FROM THE EDITOR The start of February promises a colder, snow covered month, but much needed water for the country. Some areas, of course, could use less water, but here in California, it’s a sign of better things to come. So be patient and keep working out, soon you will be back to the pits, and the sun will fill the sky. Indoor season is underway at the high school, and college kids are putting up some serious numbers. Huge shout out to Mondo Duplantis for breaking the boy’s high school record with a 5.61m/18’5” jump for this 17-year-old. Good job on breaking the National record! This month we have Cliff Peterson writing an article about his most famous pole vaulter and the Legend of Sergey Bubka. This is a great article about a man with 35 world
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records and a pole vaulter with no peers at the time. This is the first article by Cliff, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds.
Jessie Johnson is on the cover this month vaulting for Auburn University Tigers. This article was written by Samantha Kaplan detailing the pole vaulting environment and the routine that this college athlete has put forth for the upcoming season. “Jessie has looked very good in her training this fall,” says Coach Richardson. “She has been over the crossbar at 4.50 so if she stays healthy, and things go our way, I think she’ll have a good shot at clearing 15’ this year.” For her final year as an NCAA athlete, Jessie is looking to be one of the top three returners in the nation, leaving an outstanding legacy for Auburn University and its future pole vaulters.
Nic Caldwell has another middle school performer this month that already is having the ultimate season. Nico Zinsmeyer out of Texas jumps an impressive 13’6” mark and destroying his last personal record as an 8th grader. Check out the story inside and see what keeps this kid ticking. Lifting weights is a necessity and lifting properly is just as essential. Kreager Taber talks about weight lifting and how the act can be just as damaging as it is vital for the pole vaulter. She has some very real insight on the matter. “Pole vaulting is one of the most physically demanding sports on your body, and adding weightlifting to a practice regimen can either be incredible or catastrophic depending on the athlete’s safety. Bubba Sparks interviews Robert Andrews about his role
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in the mental health of his past and present athletes. “Along with Simone Biles and Laurie Hernandez I also work with a swimmer and double Olympic Gold and Silver medalist Simone Manuel.� Not only gymnasts and swimmers, but Robert has also worked with a few wellknown pole vaulters as well.
February is sure to get your season started off with a huge boost to your indoor and outdoor season. Keep the spikes laced tight and the body nice and warm, and we will see you next month. Thank you for following us as we cover the sport of pole vaulting and add some insight into this sport. Doug Bouma Editor, Vaulter magazine Vaulter Club Inc.
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THE LEGEND OF SERGEY BUBKA By: Cliff Peterson
Sergey Bubka
Sergey Bubka’s story is one of the most interesting figures in the annals of track history. Born and raised in the Ukraine, Bubka came from nowhere at the age of 19 to win his first major title at the at the 1983 World Championships. This was the first of many championships that Bubka would go on to win, but the titles he captured aren’t nearly as interesting as the story of the records he broke.
A Man with no Peers
When Bubka came on the scene, he changed the sport of pole vaulting forever. He came on the pole vaulting landscape like
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a force of nature, rushing down the runway with a ferociousness that had never before been seen. Bubka did two things that made him unmatchable by his peers. First, he carried a heavier pole that he used to generate greater force on his vaults. Also, even more importantly, Bubka held his pole at the very end so he could generate as much leverage as possible. Combining these two adaptations with Bubka’s speed and power meant that he leapfrogged his competitors. There was no other vaulter who could challenge Bubka. Therefore, Nike made the brilliant decision to give Bubka
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a challenger that everyone could enjoy watching lose. Bubka’s primary opponent became the record book.
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Bubka set his first world record a year after he won his first world championship. When it became clear that no other competitor could give Bubka a real challenge, Nike decided to start paying Bubka $100,000 a pop to break the world record in the pole vault. Bubka was a man who was as shrewd as he was athletic. A few centimeters at a time, Bubka relentlessly pushed the pole vault record higher. In all, Bubka set 35 world records, 18 outdoors and 17 indoors for a nice payday.
Sergey Bubka
Only One Slip In all his years of pole vault dominance, Bubka only relinquished his status as world record holder for a matter of minutes. At a meet in Rome in August 1984, the previous world record holder Thierry Vigneron briefly took back the world record from Bubka. Minutes later, Bubka set a new world record vault of 5.94 meters.
If Only
When a man sets 35 world records over the course of his career, it is tough to criticize him. Yet, that is what many were doing by the end of Bubka’s career. Because he
Sergey Bubka
spent so much time slowly pushing the record higher, he absolutely left his best vault off the official record. The final mark that Bubka set was 6.15 meters. That is over 20 feet in the air. While it was an impressive mark that some considered untouchable, Bubka was in the stands in his home city of Donetsk when Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie broke it 21 years later. The saddest thing is that we will never know how high Bubka would have pushed the record if he had not been collecting all those paydays for incrementally pushing the record forward.
Sergey Bubka
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AUBURN UNIVERSITY’S
JESSIE JOHNSON Where Prestige Meets Passion By: Samantha Kaplain
Eastern Alabama experiences bright sunny skies yearround. With great weather, comes outstanding track and field practice conditions, and the Auburn University Tigers take full advantage. With an extensive team of coaches, extremely high athletic standards, great academics, and electric school spirit, Auburn University never fails to produce fierce competitors in one of the toughest Division I track conferences in the states. An Auburn track and field Tiger must be a dedicated, talented, athlete willing to improve their event and overall fitness. Because the athletes
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fit this mindset, the University responds to everything the athletes need for success, starting with the staff of specialized coaches. Auburn University has six full-time track coaches, along with three more volunteer coaches. The full-time staff consists of head coach Ralph Spry, and five individualized event coaches, meaning none of the coaches must divide their time between events, allowing them to get to know their athletes and customized practices for them. Coaching the vertical jumps is Coach Scott Richardson, who has been a Division I coach for 23 years and in his 12 years with Auburn, has produced 20
All-Americans and nine conference champions. Along with premiere coaching, Auburn Tigers have access to elite training facilities. A location blessed with “320 days of sunshine a year,” the athletes practice almost exclusively outdoors. The Hustell-Rosen outdoor facility houses three separate pole vault pits. Indoors, vaulters also have access to the weight room and the elite gymnastics center, working drills “on the rings, trampoline, hi-bar, and floor.” With an extra bar set up at the track, gymnastics is always in close proximity to accentuate vault training on jump days. The high bar apparatuses are put to good use with Coach
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Jessie Johnson, by Wade Rackley of Auburn University
Jessie Johnson, by Wade Rackley of Auburn University
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Jessie Johnson, by Wade Rackley of Auburn University
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Richardson’s extensive repertoire of drills including Bubkas, Deltas, pullovers, as well as drills on the rings. Auburn vaulters master the technical drills, but that does not mean they slack on lifting and sprinting, two other key components to their success.
The hardworking Tigers get right to work at the start of the school year, beginning their training in August. “At this time of year, we do very little vaultspecific training,” says Coach Richardson. Early season practices are all about strength and conditioning at Auburn. Vaulters will work some short approaches early on, but won’t hit the pits until around October, once they are well in shape. The fall season brings intense short approach work, before moving back to full runs later on. After the conclusion of the collegiate and USATF seasons, the Auburn coaches give their athletes a well-needed break. “After 10 months of training and competing, we’re all ready for a bit of a break,” says Coach Richardson. The athletes take about six weeks off after their season ends, before beginning summer conditioning. It is important for the Tigers to ease
back into training on their own, so they are physically and mentally prepared to begin their regiment again in August.
Not just anyone can jump into the strict training regiment, and ultimate success, of the Auburn Tigers. High school vaulters looking into Auburn should know the standards are high, and the coaches expect a strong preexisting work ethic before college. For men, a 17’4” PR gets full scholarship consideration, 16’9” gets partial consideration, and walk-ons jump around 16’. On the women’s side, a PR of 13’9” puts a high school vaulter up for full scholarship consideration, 13’3” for a partial scholarship consideration, and a 12’6” PR to walk on the team. On top of proving commitment through athletics, prospective Tigers must be strong academically as well. The average ACT score accepted into Auburn is a 29, and student athletes have no excuse not to meet the academic standards of the university. Because the NCAA has more track events than scholarships to give, Auburn’s standards are just guidelines, and as the Southeastern Conference and the NCAA Division I as a
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whole get more competitive, the vaulters must work harder and be better every year. Currently, Auburn University has only one vaulter who can step up to the task; graduate student Jessie Johnson. Jessie’s hard work with Auburn’s spectacular coaches has helped her rack up some pretty prestigious accolades. Entering her final season of eligibility, the superstar vaulter has more than a few achievements under her belt. With a PR of 4.43 Jessie Johnson, by Wade Rackley of Auburn University
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(14’6 ½”), Jessie is a two-time All-American NCAA Division I athlete, the reigning Texas Relays champion, and a threetime Southeastern Conference runner up, only losing the title to Arkansas’s Sandi Morris and Lexi Weeks, both of whom were 2016 Olympians, Morris taking the silver medal at the Games. Success in the Southeastern Conference is elusive, as the conference produces some of the best pole vaulters out there today, and Jessie is no excep-
tion. “Jessie has looked very good in her training this fall,” says Coach Richardson. “She has been over the crossbar at 4.50 so if she stays healthy, and things go our way, I think she’ll have a good shot at clearing 15’ this year.” For her final year as a NCAA athlete, Jessie is looking to be one of the top three returners in the nation, leaving an outstanding legacy for Auburn University and it’s future pole vaulters.
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Sam Kendricks
Vault with Confidence The lightweight Kendricks Special Edition and Recoil Series poles by UST-ESSX are engineered for superior power, stability and consistency. The world’s best vaulters trust our technologically-advanced designs to help them reach their full potential, from approach to push off. Jump with UST-ESSX, and start raising the bar on your level of confidence.
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MAGAZINE Jessie Johnson, by Wade Rackley of Auburn University
All in all, Auburn University is about rigor, high standards, and success. But perhaps what sets it apart from other hardcore, super athlete producing universities, is that no one at Auburn forgets that in sports, passion for the game, love for the team, and fun are what it’s all about. Auburn coaches, athletes, and fans never forget the reason the starting doing what they do, and never lose sight of that getting caught up in the seriousness of the industry. “We have always had a very good Esprit de Corps on our team and it’s particularly great this year,” Coach Richardson says. And the team is very close, always bonding outside of practice and competition. “We do one different team function each month, and if we’re on the road traveling, we always try to find some fun to do nearby. Last year while on the West coast we took trips to the Pacific Ocean and also to Yosemite National Park. We have a lot of fun together and we really feel connected to each other as members of the Auburn Family.” It isn’t only the track team that is like a family. Being on a “sports-crazy campus” encourages all students, athlete or not, to get out and support other teams at their events. Auburn University is a fantastic place to be an extremely hard-working student and an athlete with 110% dedication to success, but in the end, Auburn University Tigers are people who love their sport, and couldn’t imagine their lives not pursuing their passion each and every day.
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COMMON INJURIES IN WEIGHTLIFTING AND HOW TO PREVENT THEM By: Kreager Taber While lifting weights can add a valuable component to develop the strength and speed necessary to be a successful vaulter, it can also introduce new dangers if taught and performed incorrectly. Lifting too much too quickly can cut a pole vaulter’s season short if they are injured and lucky, or it could leave them with career-ending injuries if severe enough. Some of the most common injuries from weightlifting are to the back, the knees, the shoulders, and the hamstrings, some of the most commonly injured areas in pole vaulting. Weaknesses in vaulting form can provide hints and precursors for potential problems in the gym. For these
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reasons, weightlifting must be taught carefully and attentively, with a focus on good form instead of just heavy weights.
Lower back strains, commonly referred to as “weightlifter’s back”, are a common bi-product of improper form during deadlifts, front and back squats, and Olympic lifts such as the power clean and the snatch. Many athletes who train specifically for weightlifting events use a support band to alleviate some of the stress from their back in order to avoid injury. Not every athlete has the luxury of a device for back support, so teaching proper form for each specific lift is crucial. Especially
in the Olympic lifts, improper form and injuries can arise from trying to learn the technique too quickly. The lifts can be taught in segments, similar to teaching an athlete to pole vault. Breaking down the large goal of a “power clean” into a deadlift phase, a barbell pull-up phase, and a front squat phase emphasizes correct form and safety. Poor squatting or Olympic lifting form combined with the stress put on a pole vaulter’s lower back during practice is a recipe for disaster. The knees can fall susceptible to injuries especially during the preseason when heavy lifting is just starting to become
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common practice. Putting too much weight on the barbell before an athlete is physically prepared for it can lead to a variant of runner’s knee or dislocations. Weightlifters can develop “runner’s knee”, an overuse injury usually reserved for long-distance runners when they weight lift too frequently or unsafely. Runner’s knee commonly presents itself as pain around the kneecap or when the leg is bent, and the pain typically worsens when walking up or down stairs. Fortunately, the pain can be partially remedied with rest, ice, compression, and elevation. According to Pete McCall, an exercise physiologist at the American Council on Exercise, the knee is a stable joint in between the mobile hip and foot joints. If either “mobile” joint loses mobility due to poor form in running or weightlifting, the knee is forced to overcompensate. This overcompensation leads to strains, runner’s knee, or other misuse injuries. Another common knee injury rises from hyperextension of the knees on the leg press machine or during a leg-focused lift, which both put strain on the back of the legs and the knees. To prevent knee and lower-body injuries, reintroduce lifting during preseason gradually and if the vaulter complains of any knee pain, utilize the R.I.C.E method
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and talk to athletic trainers for further instruction.
Shoulder injuries from weightlifting commonly arise from failing to properly warmup before exercises involving the arms. For example, shoulder-tooverhead barbell presses or the jerk are wonderful additions to the power clean lift; however, when the legs are warmed up but the arms are neglected, the lift can be dangerous. Arm circles to prepare the shoulders before lifting, using a PVC pipe, are an excellent way to prevent injuries. Shoulder injuries can also stem from a lack of flexibility, which makes placing the barbell on the upper chest muscles and shoulders during front squats and cleans difficult. Arm circles can also work to develop flexibility in the shoulders, which is beneficial for both the planting phase of pole vaulting and weightlifting. Athletes can begin to do assisted front squats by crossing their arms and putting their hands on their opposite shoulders instead of forcing the shoulders and wrists into an unnatural position. From this position, the athlete can work daily to develop shoulder and wrist flexibility to hold the barbell correctly. The wrist and shoulder strength that accompanies the flexibility transitions well into the plant phase of the pole vault.
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The hamstrings are already at risk for injury if the vaulter takes off too far inside, and adding an intense lifting regimen of lower-body heavy activity can lead to overuse injuries and strains. Squats, Olympic lifts, and Russian Deadlifts specifically put stress on the hamstrings, and if they are already under strain due to vaulting, tears or strains can ensue. Rolling out the legs after pole vaulting is a good way to reduce soreness and prevent injuries by reducing the need for unnecessary hamstring compensation. Properly stretching and warming up effectively before weightlifting can also reduce the risk of hamstring injury. Tightness in the hip flexors during squats or Olympic lifts forces the hamstrings to compensate and increases the risk of injury. Furthermore, weakness in the gluteal muscles can also present problems during weightlifting sessions and vaulting. The best way to prevent hamstring issues from occurring in the first place could be as simple as stretching daily, warming up effectively, rolling out often, and being sure that the muscles aren’t improperly compensating for others during lifts. Pole vaulting is one of the most physically demanding sports on your body, and adding weightlifting to a practice
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regimen can either be incredible or catastrophic depending on the athlete’s safety. Building strength is necessary, but only when done in a gradual and safe manner. The coach must focus on the technique of each lift instead of simply looking at how much weight the athlete can
lift. Watching Youtube videos of proper and safe lifts, getting input from personal trainers and the schools’ athletic trainers, and taking care to stretch and warm up effectively before each session are good starting points to weightlift safely.
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EVERYTHING IS BIGGER IN TEXAS By: Nic Caldwell Nico Zinsmeyer
NICO ZINSMEYER Height: 5’7” Weight: 134 LBS Age/Grade: 14, 8th grade Favorite book: The Bronze Bow Favorite color: Green Favorite food: Breakfast Taco’s Favorite movie: The Secret of My Success Favorite pre-vault snack: Protein Bar Favorite vacation spot: Pensacola Beach Ice cream or cake: Ice cream Siblings: Older brother If you could go back and tell yourself one thing, what would it be?: Getting upside down is hard. A lot harder than I would have thought.
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This month’s middle school star is Nico Zinsmeyer. Nico Hails from the Lone Star state in San Antonio. At a respectable five foot seven, this eighth grader packs a punch that only a Texan can. In 2012, Olympic gold wrestling champion Jordan Burrows became an instant hit on Twitter when he tweeted, “All I see is gold” just minutes before his final match. If Athletic.net were able to add a tag line to Nico’s 6th grade track season, it would be such phrase. Nico’s track and field career started when he was in sixth grade, and boy, did he strike fast. Nico was involved in numerous events. These events included the long jump, triple jump, 400-meter dash and numerous relays. When all said and done, Nico’ earned himself 21 first place finishes between six different events. If that doesn’t make you fall in love with track, I don’t know what will.
When in doubt, vault it out
The high of Nico’s 2015 season quickly came to a halt when an unfortunate incident cause Nico to sustain a stress fracture on the top of his left foot. Nico was forced to take some time off. Lucky for us, he had some time to think and with some persuasion from his friends, he began the next track season with pole vault. And just like the Texan way, he made a huge impact on the middle school pole vault community. Nico cleared a very respectable 10’ at his first meet. He then followed that up with a PR of 11’ 3’’. Nico launched himself to the number 1 position in all the seventh graders in the nation
(according to Athletic.net). Great job Nico and welcome to the pole vault family. Get cozy. It appears as if you may be staying a while.
Since last march when Nico cleared the 11foot mark, he has been a student to the vault and has had some great mentors and influences. In the gym that Nico attends, he is able to watch some of the greatest vaulters who currently vault in the United States. Nico told me that his role models are Logan Cunningham (18’ 8 ¾’’) and Anicka Newell (14’9’’). Both vaulter recently competed in the Rio Olympics (Logan for the United States, and Anicka for Canada) and both athletes train in Nico’s gym. Nico also has a tremendous training program where he lifts 3 times a week and vault trains 2 times a week. I asked Nico what his immediate and long-term goal was. He Hopes to clear 14’ in the next year and 17’ by the end of high school.
A Bright Future
Nico recently attended a pole vault summit in the little city of Reno. While there, Nico was able to get a whopping personal record of 13’ 6’’! As an outsider looking in, it is outstanding to hear that when an athlete commits and is willing to train five days per week and is willing to listen, their own goals can easily be met. It takes a talented athlete to do well, but a determined athlete to be the best. And Nico, with a jump of 13’6’’, you would have been the best in the nation for seventh and eighth graders in the 2016 season. I, along with some of the readers, will be rooting for you in the upcoming season as you finish your middle school career.
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Interview with one of the premier sports psychologists in the world,
ROBERT ANDREWS By: Bubba Sparks
Robert Andrews is one of the premier sports psychology consultants and mental training experts in the business. You probably saw him in a number of articles and interviews around the Rio Olympic Games. ESPN, LA Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Texas Monthly, and BBC World News, regarding his work with USA star gymnasts, Simone Biles and Laurie Hernandez. Robert has worked with many top professional and elite athletes in many sports but has a real fondness and understanding of pole vaulters. And who needs a mental training expert more than pole vaulters?
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What made you realize that you had both an interest and a talent for your profession? I have always been an athlete, and I have always had an interest in human potential. Even at a young age, I was blessed to be around people who inspired me to think about my purpose in life and coaches who inspired me to be my best. Over the years, my interest in sports and my interest in motivating and inspiring people came together in a very successful practice. I look forward to getting into my office or getting on the road to work with a team or organization. I light up when I get to teach and inspire. I also get excited when I watch an athlete shift their mental and emotional paradigm and achieve things they didn’t think were possible.
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Who are some of the better-known and lesserknown athletes you have or currently work with? Along with Simone Biles and Laurie Hernandez, I also work with a swimmer and double Olympic Gold and Silver medalist Simone Manuel. I also work with numerous Olympic athletes from numerous countries around the world in track and field, men’s and women’s gymnastics, swimming, trampoline, and judo. I am working with Winter Olympic sports too. There are some athletes
whose names I can’t mention like NFL, NBA, MLB players, Heisman Trophy winners, World Champions and others. I see a lot of high school and college athletes as well as weekend athletes.
What made you interested in the pole vault?
My interest in pole vault goes back to high school. One of my best friends, Glen Dickson, the father of Pole Vault Coach of the Year Brookelyn Dickson, was a pole-vaulter. Since we didn’t have a pole
vault coach, I was his coach. I would point out what I saw, and he would make corrections. He helped me with high jump, and I helped him with pole vault. After the Beijing Olympics, I began working with Olympian, Erica Bartolina and the fire was reignited. Since then, I have continued to work with elite, college, and high school jumpers. I still have working relationships and friendships with Glen, Brookelyn, and Erica. That is one of the things I love about this sport. The closeness of the pole-vault community. Laurie Hernandez
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In addition to my early experiences with the sport, I came to admire the tight community of coaches, vaulters, their parents, and their remarkable commitment and love of their sport. It takes fierceness, courage, discipline, personal accountability, focus, and resilience…. it is what I call a high character sport. It takes great character to be successful in this sport. And if you approach it the right way, it builds great character.
How do vaulters differ in their needs from you than other athletes?
Pole Vaulting is an individual sport, much like gymnastics, where I seem to have a lot of success. A pole-vaulter doesn’t have a team backing them up or covering up their mistakes. It is the athlete, the pole, the runway, the box, and the bar. You either clear the height or you don’t. Once the athlete steps on the runway, it is up to them to create success or create struggle. I have created a performance model that works, so I use that same model with each athlete that I work with. We might tweak it for specifics of that sport, but the foundation is the same regardless of the athlete. Mastering mental, emotional, and physical energy
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to achieve higher and higher levels of success. Pole vault is so much about confidence, belief, energy, and passion.
I don’t think there is a more exciting time in a track meet than to watch two vaulters battling at incredible heights. The crowd is clapping and cheering. You can feel the energy. It takes a strong mind and spirit to excel in this intense environment.
There is also great risk involved in pole vault so it takes a strong disciplined mind to be able to focus on thoughts and images that create success. The last thing a vaulter wants to focus on is images and thoughts that create fear, hesitation, and anxiety.
In general how receptive are vaulters in their ability to apply what you teach? Any better or worse than other athletes?
My work with pole vaulters is especially rewarding because as a culture their “buy in” is very high. They understand the connection between the mind and the body. They understand how important it is to manage distractions at a meet and away from their sport. Unlike other
sports where wealth and fame create athletes who think they have all the answers and don’t need support from someone like me, pole-vaulters, in general, tend to be pretty humble. They take ownership of their limitations and are open to asking for and receiving support. They are supportive of each other. They share ideas and
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Simone Biles and her medals
concepts. Where else do 3,000 athletes get together to share ideas and learn together? They cheer for, support, and celebrate each other, whether they are clearing 9‘ or 19’.
Have you worked with extreme sports athletes and if so, how do vault-
ers compare to their mentality? I have worked with motocross, BMX racers, ultra distance runners, Ninja Warriors, and others. Most athletes I see, regardless of the sport, are pretty solid individuals. Poor character athletes don’t tend to be open to my per-
formance model. I would say there is some common ground between the “extreme sport” mentality and the pole vault mentality. It takes a different personality and mindset to run down a runway and launch yourself into the air. But that is what makes it such a great sport. Not many people have the courage and confidence to
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enter this sport. Those that do develop character traits they can use the rest of their lives.
What are some of the issues you plan to cover in future articles?
• Handling failure • Focusing on the journey, not the destination • The power of imagery and pole vaulting • Handling the dreaded “Bigger Pole” Thank you so much, Robert and we can’t wait to get your insights! Bubba Sparks
Robert B. Andrews MA, LMFT The Institute of Sports Performance Mental Training-Sports Injury Specialist www.tinssp.com
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Bubba Sparks
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