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contents
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FROM THE EDITOR
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Her Own Pole Vault Miracle
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What does it mean to be a Great Teacher?
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Team Kendricks from the Beginning
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Unavoidable Injuries
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Question and Answer with Coach Kendricks
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6 28 Photo by Rich Baum
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FROM THE EDITOR Hello again! This month we have brought you some new and exciting things. As college outdoor seasons are starting and high school indoor seasons are starting, sit back and take a look at what we have this month. I’m sure you all have heard the name Demi Payne? This month Sadie Lovett was able to have a conversation with this recordbreaking athlete and has given you some great insight to Demi’s career. Have a look at the story of Demi and her sweet girl, Charlee.
As we mourn for our monthly-writer Penny and the loss of her son this past January, she writes a valuable lesson of what it means to be a great teacher. A lesson she learned from her son. It is not only a touching story, but a great lesson to learn. Flip over and read what her son’s students learned in the short amount of time they had Mitch as a teacher.
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Who has shin splints yet? It’s almost as if they are a right-ofpassage for pole vault, so sadly you will most likely get them eventually. Luckily, Sadie Lovett
able. If you already have them, then limp on over to this article to see what you can do to get off the sidelines and back onto the runway.
Aside from these three decently sized articles, everything else we have for you is Team Kendricks. Bubba, Coach Kendricks, and Sam Kendricks all have written you great articles filled with information from workouts to Team Kendricks’ goals for the upcoming years. You all saw his latest PR at the summit and I’m sure you want to know more about this power-team. So sit back and relax, because this father-son duo is about to take you on a journey!
As you all continue to defy gravity, enjoy this month’s issue and we look forward to bringing you a great issue in April! Thank Sadie Lovett, Editor Vaulter Magazine you for continuing to be our readers. Until next has also covered how to treat time, fly high and set some PRs! shin splints for when you get Editor Doug Bouma them. They aren’t preventable editor@thevaultermag.com or avoidable, but they are treat-
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Vaulter Tattoo at the 2015 Pole Vault Summit
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Vaulter Tattoo at the 2015 Pole Vault Summit
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Her Own Pole Vault Miracle By Sadie Lovett Demi Payne
Breaking the NCAA record at 15’7 (4.75), Demi Payne is doing what most vaulters only dream they could do. The senior at Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas, as you know, broke the NCAA record and is now 3rd on the U.S. alltime record list, but did this just over a year after having a baby. Finding out she was pregnant February 2013, Payne didn’t give up pole vaulting to be a mother, but instead continued to pursue her dream of pole vaulting while preparing to be a wonderful mother and fiancée. How was she able to do this? It’s insane to think of someone
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www.vaultermagazine.com Demi Payne
training up until they are nine months pregnant and making a remarkable comeback! To be able to do something this amazing, you must have a second-to-none support group. And Demi has just that.
“It all started with my father, Bill Payne,” says Demi, “He was the one who convinced me to pick up a pole for the very first time the summer after my freshman year of high school. He’d always tell me I had the tools to be a champion. And although I wanted to be one, I don’t think I ever truly believed him until now. My family has stuck behind me since day one, and they continue to show me how blessed I am to have such an amazing support group in my life. In high school, my family were the people who pushed me to strive for the best and believe that anything is possible. But my college career has been influenced by someone who has changed my life forever. Now I am the one trying to show my daughter that anything is possible, and I strive to be the best for her.” It is clear her father saw endless potential in Demi. His support of Demi only encourages her to succeed even more so, which set her up to be a phenomenal parent to Charlee like her parents have been for her.
Demi’s biggest inspiration is her daughter, Charlee. It is Charlee who pushed and pushes Demi to do things she never dreamed of, and it is Charlee who gives her mother even more determination to be the best she can be: “My daughter, Charlee, is the one who gets me through my toughest days. She gets me through every day. There’s not a moment when I’m not thinking about her. She’s made me a stronger person mentally and physically. If you would have told me two years ago that I could come back from having a child and be 10X stronger than what I was before, I would have thought you were insane. But if I’m not a living proof of that, then I don’t know who is.”
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February 5, 2015 in Albuquerque, New Mexico is when Demi broke her own collegiate record, ranking her number one in the nation and number three on the U.S. all-time best list:
“Breaking my own collegiate record in New Mexico was a moment I will never forget. After I cleared 15’3, my coach decided to put the bar at
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15’7 “for fun”—just to see what would happen. I just remember standing at the back of the runway telling myself to pretend there wasn’t even a bar up there. It all happened so quickly that as soon as my body hit the mat and I saw the bar was still up there, the only reaction had was to fall to my knees on the pit and just thank God for getting me this far.”
Not everyone could do what Demi has done. You would have to be a very determined and mentally strong person to overcome what she has. But there’s no way she could have done it alone. Her family, fiancé, friends, and coach have been at her side. Her mother and father have been there for her since day one, and all their support and hard work has paid off. All the days of doubt, all the days where Demi felt defeated have paid off. Somehow she pushed through it and she “thanks God for getting [her] this far.” We have not seen the end of this height-defying vaulter as she has the rest of her 2015 indoor season and then her 2015 outdoor season. She will also return in 2016 for one more outdoor season. With so much time to improve, Demi will most definitely be on the radar for the Rio Olympics. Her story is inspirational. And she hopes to inspire you, young pole vaulter, to never stop pursuing. She tells you, “Be fearless and trust the plan God has for your life. Take any opportunity to put yourself out of your comfort zone—because that’s when something great is going to happen.”
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Dragons Posing with the Vaulter Tattoo
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What does it mean to be a Great Teacher? I recently read an article about “The Heart of Teaching: What it means to be a Great Teacher”. The article answered the question “What lies in the heart of a great teacher?” with these criteria: “You are kind. You are compassionate. You are empathetic. You are positive. You are a builder. You inspire”. My son, Mitchell Hanson, is one of these teachers. On January 15, my beautiful, sweet and loving youngest son, Mitchell, died at the age of 28. His death was a tragic accident and he was taken from us much too soon. All those who knew Mitch knew that he was a fun-loving “child at heart” who dearly loved kids. From the time he was in 7th grade, Mitch wanted to be a teacher.
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He fulfilled his dream, teaching, first at Montbello High School in Denver, and then at Smoky Hill High School in the Cherry Creek school district. For the past four years he has taught social studies and geography. He was also an AVID teacher, preparing at-risk and underrepresented students for success in high school and beyond. He was the drumline coach for the Smoky Hill Marching Band and the sponsor of the Mock Trial team. Mitch’s students loved him and he would spend hours talking to and interacting with them. He truly cared about “his kids”.
The week after his death, Mitch’s students organized a memorial for him at 7:00am around the flagpole at Smoky
Hill High School. They wrote their memories of him in a book and released orange balloons into the air. They contacted the local news station about their loss and spoke freely into the microphone about their love for my son, their teacher (http://kdvr. com/2015/01/19/324211/). The students also held a candlelight vigil where hundreds of kids spoke about their love for this man who had shown them kindness, compassion and love. We learned more about our son the teacher that evening than we ever thought possible. We held Mitch’s Celebration of Life service on Saturday January 24 so that his students could attend. The drumline marched into the church playing their favorite
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cadence, showing off the skills that Mitch had taught them. Once again, students had the opportunity to share their grief and respect, speaking in front of 700 people who had come to pay their respects. Their words were simply amazing:
Mitch and Penny Hanson
“You were such a memorable man and you taught me so much about history.” “I will never forget you.”
“Mr. Hanson impacted so many lives.” “I have not had a happy life, but Mr. Hanson made me feel important.”
“Mr. Hanson is my favorite teacher. He inspired me to like social studies.” “Thank you for being such an inspiring teacher and mentor. Your positivity and friendliness will always be remembered.” “You weren’t just a teacher, you were a friend.”
“Thank you for always being there for me. You never judged me and you made me laugh when I was down.” “I will always remember looking forward to your class in the mornings.” “Thank you for inspiring me and greeting me with open arms.”
“I could feel the love Mr. Hanson had for his job in the words he spoke and how he made me feel that I was there experiencing major events through history.” “Mr. Hanson taught me to believe in myself when I couldn’t. That’s why I loved him.”
“Mr. Hanson was more than a teacher, he looked after us like we were family.” “Mr. Hanson was my home.”
A great teacher is much more than simply credentials, experience and intelligence. A great teacher cares. Although he only taught for 5 years, my son was a great teacher. Mitch impacted more students in his short lifetime than some
teachers do in their entire career. Every single day one or more of his students will send me a text asking how I am doing. I would like to think they have learned compassion from Mr. Hanson. While my heart is irretrievably broken, it has been warmed by the knowledge that Mitch was able to touch so many young lives. I am infinitely proud of my son. Mitch’s dream was to become a teacher. Along the way, he became a great teacher—one who will never be forgotten. You inspire us all, Mitch. Penny Hanson Hanson College Consultants penny@hansoncollegeaccess.com 720-883-6800
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Vaulter Tattoo at the 2015 Pole Vault Summit
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Team Kendricks from the Beginning
By: Sadie Lovett | Photos by Rich Baum
Sam Kendricks stood on the infield and shouted across the track to his coach. “What do you think?” “You know you’re gonna make this!” said his coach. “I mean about the standards?” “I’m thinking 52,” said his coach. “I’m thinking more like 56.” “52, then let’s go get us a hot dog,” said his coach. Sam laughs, “Alright, old man, 52 it is.” Kendricks walked back to the runway at the 2014 NCAA Outdoor pole vault Championships, took a few deep breaths, and asked the crowd for the clap. Final attempt at 18-8 1/4 for the win. Shawn Barber nailed 18-6 1/2 on his first, so Sam was behind on misses. The coach watched from the stairs of Hayward Field as Sam nailed the mid-mark and the take-off mark. As soon as he saw the pole planted, the coach raised his
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hands and turned to walk back to his seat. Half a second later the crowd erupted in applause as Kendricks cleared the bar.
As Sam walked off of the pit, he grabbed his pole and pointed up to the stands to his coach— his father. Mom was there too, laughing and crying at the same time. Mom has always brought Sam good luck. They’ve been here before. Sam won the 2013 NCAA title on the same height the year before in a dual with his high school hero, Jack Whitt. But long before that, this same scenario had been played out thousands of times at one-on-one pole vault practices at Oxford high school in Oxford, Ms between father and son.
“It’s always been a team thing for us,” says Coach Scott Kendricks, “When Sam was a little guy, he always just trusted and did what I said. Now that he is so experienced, I can pretty much just plan training and give advice about the fine points.” Vaulter: Coach Kendricks, how long have you been training Sam?
Coach K: Since 7th grade. Sam has about 13,000 safe jumps since we started him in back then.
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Vaulter: Safe jumps?
Coach K: Yes, safety has always been our first consideration with Sam or any other athlete that we have worked with. Sam has never been rejected, never missed the pit, and never landed in the box in his 10 years of training. We also believe in consistency. Sam has never failed to clear a height in any meet since he began in Jr. High. Vaulter: 13,000 jumps is
a lot of jumping. How did he build up so many?
Coach K: Well, a little background here. I started coaching at Oxford in 1998 and for most of that time, I either didn’t have an assistant or I maybe had one, so I coached all events myself. Sam and his twin, Tom, grew up coming to track practice every day starting in first grade. When I started coaching them in 7th grade, they were the smallest kids out there and we had to work after
hours. It was hard to take away precious team practice time for these little guys. So we would stay after or work together on Saturdays and Sundays. We trained a lot in the off-season. A lot of Dads would throw the ball in the yard with their sons. We would throw discus and pole vault, hurdle, high jump. We just had fun. Vaulter: Sam, did you ever think you would rise to this level? Sam Kendricks
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Sam Kendricks
Sam Kendricks: Heck no! We just jumped for fun. My first goal was to beat Kelly Drewery’s school record of 13’7”! After that, I just wanted to be State Champion one day. That was about as high as we looked.
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Vaulter: Did those goals change? Sam Kendricks: Well, Dad started taking Oxford athletes to Nationals. We had a sprinter who was 3rd at Nationals and
a relay team that was 3rd. Our high jumper, Justin Fondren, won Nationals. Anyway, when we were there for the first time, I saw all these guys vaulting 15, 16 feet. This guy, Spencer McCorkle, won with like 16-7. I
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was incredible! I got there as a junior and jumped a lifetime best of 15-4.
Vaulter: Did you change things from then until now?
Sam Kendricks: Yes and no. When I started trying to jump higher in 10th grade, I held higher than I should have and it started to hurt my back. Dad changed my style to hold lower and I began vaulting higher and higher.
Vaulter: Coach Kendricks, what concepts were you trying to teach Sam by switching to lower grips?
asked Dad if he thought that I could qualify for Nationals one day. He said that if we worked a lot harder, it might happen one day. A couple of years later, we were there again and I saw this guy, Jack Whitt, jump 17-10! He
Coach K: Well, holding high was hurting his back when he was 16, so we switched to lower grips and shorter runs to work on the top of his jump. Next thing you know, the kid had jumped 17 feet for a state high school best. We were so naï�ve that we just left the bar up and stopped! After high school, Sam just developed an efficiency that allowed him to grip 15’ and jump about 17’ 4 to 17’ 6. At the end of his freshman year at Ole Miss, we moved up grip to 15-8! Sam immediately jumped 18’ ½ and almost got into the Olympic trials. Vaulter: Sam, you thought you were in the trials in ’12 and
you went to Oregon only to find out a couple of days before that you were out. Did that change anything for you?
Sam: Sure did. I was watching the status of entries list, and in the space of about 3 weeks, I went from 11th on the list, down to 15th, then 18th. Dad bought tickets and in the last few days before the trials, more results were coming in and I went to 21, then 24, then 27. They drew a line right above my name and I wasn’t accepted. I had jumped 5.50 and they ended up taking 5.51 guys. I was out by 1 cm. We watched from the stands. I told Dad that I would never be on the bubble again. Vaulter: And 2 years later, you’re USA Champion?
Sam: I know. It sounds crazy, but we knew from practices that I was improving fast. The next season, we started jumping 5.50 almost every meet and we got 3rd at NCAA Indoors. Then we went to Texas Relays. Vaulter: 5.81?
Sam: Yes, that was a crazy day. Everyone was jumping great and I had a ridiculously awesome warm-up. I was booming over 18’. I think we all knew that we were gonna jump high—especially Jake
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Blankenship and Shawn. The 5.71 and 5.81 jumps were just a result of a lot of hard work and belief in what we were doing on lower grips. I gripped 15-9 for the 19’ jump. After that, folks started taking us more seriously. Vaulter: You keep saying “Us.” You mean you and your Dad? Sam Kendricks
and not worry so much about having the perfect pole. Sam really only had 2 competition poles. One pole to jump 18’ on and another one to try to go higher.
Vaulter: What made you guys switch to UST-ESSX?
Sam: Well, we broke all our other poles! It was getting
helpful and everyone sent us a sample pole or two to try. We even asked our arch-rivals at Mississippi State for help, and our friend Joe Gant loaned us an old Pacer Carbon that Sam won SEC and NCAAs on. Bruce Caldwell sent us 2 poles from UST-ESSX. They were so light that Sam had a hard time trusting them for a couple of jumps. He jumped 18-3 the first day in practice on a 15-9 UST-ESSX Recoil Advance pole. Vaulter: But you switch right away?
Sam: Yeah, it’s a habit. We have always worked so closely together, that’s what we both say. Vaulter: Coach K, what do you see that Sam does differently that helps him be consistent.
Coach K: We never had many poles. Even in college, so we tried to dial in the jump
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frustrating. Because of my lower grip and the way I load them, they were all breaking right above the sail piece and again right below my left hand. They all broke in 3 pieces.
Coach K: It was kind of an accident. Sam had just broken his go-to pole in training and cut his knee cap. I got in touch with everyone that made poles. Everyone was extremely
didn’t
Sam: No, Ole Miss needed us to win at SEC and NCAA. It didn’t matter which pole we like the best. We went to NCAAs with 4 different pole brands in our bag. We honestly had Spirits, Pacers, Altius, and UST-ESSX all in the same tube. We still were not sure which one was the best pole, but we had to try to win NCAAs, so we jumped on the old Mississippi State white Pacer Carbon for the 18-8 jump at Oregon. We still chuckle about that pole. MSU Coach Joe Gant is a great guy to let us use that pole. Vaulter: So what made you switch before USATF?
Sam: Well, this guy named Bruce Caldwell drove to Oxford with his engineer, Beto Sanchez and they brought 4
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poles for us to try. Dad had shown me where Bruce had made the winning pole for Wladyslaw Kozakiewicz at the 1980 Olympics. Kozakiewicz pushed off over a meter, so I was willing to listen and try the poles. That next day I cleared 18-8 by a foot at our high school track on a USTESSX Recoil Advance. That was it for us. The pole is really light, but it’s really tough at the same time. I’m not the biggest or the Sam Kendricks
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fastest guy out there, so this pole feels like it is made for a vaulter like me. If we didn’t believe that I would jump my highest on it, we wouldn’t be using it.
Coach K: Then, when we got to USAs, everyone looked at those yellow poles and said “Sam, are you going to compete on those?” For the first time, we had a true series of poles that worked one after another
in sequence. It was great. Sam jumped the winner on pole #2. Vaulter: And that was your last meet?
Sam: Yes, as you may know, I’m on a full Army scholarship at Ole Miss. My track scholarship was pretty small, because I was only a 17 footer in high school. The Army has made a commitment to me and I am extremely grateful to them. I
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went to Army training after USAs so that ended my season.
Vaulter: So what made you decide to give up your senior year?
Sam: Well, several factors came in to that decision. Firstly, I will be an Army officer next May. My Army scholarship is really making this pro dream possible. I can finish school on time. After that, I have every hope that the Army is going to want me to keep jumping at the world-class level. That’s the hope. But for now, having won almost every major event at the NCAA level and then winning USAs, we decided that we should take a shot at a pro career this year and really concentrate on our goals of Worlds in Beijing and the Olympic Games in Rio. We just have faith that all the pieces will fall into place somehow. The whole concept is kind of a dream, considering where we started and that we still train at the local high school. Vaulter: So when you came out early, did you know that you might get a contract? Sam: No, you have to take that leap of faith. My Dad and my grandfather, Sam Kendricks Sr., assured me that we would find a way to get to all the big meets. We also knew that there was USATF Tier 1 and Tier 2 funding out there that we
might qualify for plus some travel benefits. We didn’t hear anything concrete from Nike for about a month. But that was BIG for us! That’s Christmas for any college athlete! Our Christmas just came a year early. Also, we were very fortunate to get Jeff Hartwig to be my agent. I have a lot of confidence in Jeff.
Vaulter: So how did the USTESSX TEAM KENDRICKS pole concept come about?
Sam: Well, we were really committed to compete on USTESSX Recoil Advance. Bruce Caldwell had made us a whole line of practice poles and competition poles. We have honestly never had such quality practices. We don’t worry about breaking these poles and it is so easy for me to transition from one pole to the next and keep the same technique. Nothing changes between poles. Then Bruce showed us an Army camo theme pole that said “TEAM KENDRICKS.” Bruce said that since we were committed to UST-ESSX, that UST-ESSX wanted to show their commitment back to us. The Army is very important to me, my Dad is very important to me, and UST-ESSX is very important to me. Bruce nailed all three with that label. Vaulter: So what are your plans for this year?
Sam: Well, we just want to keep training at a high level here in our small town of Oxford. Our hope is to make some really big meets and to jump a new lifetime best this year. Making the team for Worlds is the hope for 2015 and Rio for 2016. And it would be really great to jump 6 meters someday! Vaulter: Does your Dad really call the standards? Sam: We are a team, and “my old man” nails that part most of the time.
Epilogue: On January 16th, 2015, Sam attended the Reno Pole Vault Summit for the first time and jumped in the Friday night “Global Elite Men’s Division” with World Record Holder Renaud Lavillenie. Renaud won with a world-leading 5.92m jump. Sam placed 2nd and jumped a lifetime best of 5.86m or (19’ 2 ¾”) on at 4.80m (15’9”) 210 lbs. UST-ESSX Recoil Advance Carbon Pole. When the bar went to 5.86m, Sam asked for 53cm on the standards. Coach K asked Sam to lower his grip one inch to 15’5”. Sam cleared 5.86 with those numbers on his first attempt. This was World Record Push-off clearance of 4’6”(54”). Previous Record held by Joe Dial gripping 16’1 jumping 19’6” 4’-2” (50”).
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www.vaultermagazine.com Dragons Sporting The Vaulter Tattoo
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Unavoidable Injuries By: Sadie Lovett
Shin splints: “Pain caused by overuse along the shinbone, the large front bone in the lower leg. Shin splints result when muscles, tendons,
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and bone tissue become overworked. Shin splints often occur in athletes who have recently intensified or changed their training” (Mayo Clinic).
At some point you will experience these injuries. Those of you who have avoided them, you are so lucky. What’s really bad about shin splints is that there is really no way to avoid or prevent them. Also, if you’ve had them once, you will get them again. Many people think that doing calf raises prevents shin splints. That isn’t completely true. Shin splints are caused from overworking your calf muscles and the muscles that are behind your shins then overcompensate for your over worked calves. When this happens, these smaller muscles become inflamed. Doing calf raises maybe once a week, when you don’t have shin splints, will strengthen your calf muscles. But doing them too much will actually cause shin splints and cause them
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sooner. Calf raises won’t prevent shin splints, but the goal is that they will minimize the length of time that you have them and the amount of pain they will cause.
As much as shin splints suck, the good news is they are self-treatable. The best way to get rid of them is to not practice at all. You need a two-week break from all of your intense workouts. But if you’re already into your competition season,
or hate sitting out like me, you don’t have two weeks to rest. There are some treatments you can do to help keep them tolerable during practice and help them heal faster.
To start, since your muscles are inflamed, take ibuprofen because it’s an anti-inflammatory and it will also help with pain. Next, try the RICE remedies: rest, ice, compress, elevation. Rest is going to get those muscles a break, ice not only
keeps the inflammation down, but it also feels good, compression helps the “pressure” feeling go away, and elevation helps the swelling and inflammation go down. Stretching your calf muscles also really helps loosen your tight calves. Your calves are really tight and are cramping—that’s what that “pressure” feeling is from. When your calves are “cramping” like this, they produce knots. Stretching will help pull these knots loose and help the cramping go away.
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What I find to be the most helpful is massaging the knots out of your calves. You can ask someone to massage them for you or you can buy a massage stick between $20 and $30. Stretching after you massage your calves really helps too.
When you have shin splints you need to pay attention to how much they hurt. If they hurt to the point of affecting your performance at practice, stop. If you push yourself too hard, you can make them worse, make them last longer,
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and they can cause stress fractures in your shins. Sitting out for a couple of practices to give your calves a break is not as bad as sitting out for six weeks with stress fractures. You could also try biking in place of your running workout. That way you still get some kind of cardio without making your shin splints worse. Some people are lucky and don’t get them at all. Some coaches don’t know how bad they can get. What’s important is that you pay attention and know your body’s limits, and communicate with
your coach. Your coach can’t feel with you are feeling. No coach is going to be mad when you tell them “my shins are hurting, I think I need to rest them.” They don’t want you to have to sit out because you pushed yourself too hard when you had shin splints either. Don’t be scared to communicate with your coach—they are there for you. It’s important to know when you’re alright to push through the pain, and when to take a break.
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www.vaultermagazine.com Vaulter Tattoo at the 2015 Pole Vault Summit
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Question and Answer with Coach Kendricks Q: Coach K, when did you first see and develop an interest in vaulting?
A: Outside of coaching, my sports career is not very remarkable. I've always been in love with the sport of track. My high school had a cinder-type track and I hung out there all the time—picking up every event. I was a football coach's kid, so I had a lot of desire and discipline. I initially wanted to be a decathlete, but lack of coaching really held me back there. Ironically, the event that was the biggest roadblock to my decathlon plans was the pole vault! We had a guy who medaled at State every year on our team and he vaulted at practice twice a week. Our vaulter (Rusty) bent that Cat-a-pole beautifully! I loved the event, but our school only had one pole...a 13' x 180. I weighed 140. I tried the event
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many times. I was rejected into the grass a lot, so I finally gave it up and became a miler. As far as college goes, I was good enough (as a miler / cross country kid) to walk-on at Ole Miss in 1979. Even as a runner at Ole Miss, I was fascinated by the guys over at the vault. They were phenomenal athletes and their event lasted longer than any other on the meet program. Kind of ironic that the sport that beat me up has helped my son to succeed. Q: Was Sam a good athlete growing up?
A: Yes, Sam took to sports naturally. Sports have always been an important activity for us. My Dad was a football coach pretty exclusively and he didn’t know much about track. I was pretty much on my own to train myself. But that was good…be-
cause I had to dig for information. When I became a father and high school coach, I decided to give my sons my best efforts, and I knew how to learn. They were very good young athletes and I tried to help and encourage as much as I could. Q: What other sports did Sam play?
A: Sam and his twin Tom loved soccer early on. Sam became an amazing young soccer player and has the skills of a European kid with the soccer ball. Q: At what point did Sam become interested in vaulting?
A: As coach’s kids, Sam and Tom had to come to practice every day from an early age. By 7th grade, each had picked up a specialty. I felt like Tom would be a good discus thrower (and
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he won silver at the state meet). Sam was smaller and he needed an event where more practice would give him an edge. Coincidentally, our school was the first to start girl’s pole vaulting in 2004. We bought six new pink poles for girls that year. Those poles were perfect for starting Sam in the event the following year. For his first two years, he always had the next pink pole. I think his first pole was an 11’ x 90 lb Mystik. Q: Coach K, at what point did you think he could be really good?
A: When Sam was a junior at OHS, he qualified for the New Balance National Meet. That was a big deal for us. He also cleared 17’ as a senior. At that point, I thought he could compete at the collegiate level.
Q: What did his progression look like?
A: Sam jumped 9'6 as a 7th grader, 10'6 as an 8th grader, 12'6 as a 9th grader, 13'7 as a 10th grader, 15'4 as an 11th grader, and 17' as a senior. As a college freshman, Sam jumped 5.50 (18’ ½). As a sophomore, he jumped 19’ ¾, and now as a senior, he’s gone 19’ 2 ¾. Q: Coach K and Sam, you guys had a great career at Ole Miss and now you’re pro. What are
the accomplishments you two are most proud of so far?
A: (Sam) In my life as an athlete, championships come and go and what I consider to be the greatest achievement is staying healthy and committed through the years. A: (Coach K) I am just proud that coming from an area that is not known for excellence at the highest levels of track, Sam and I have been able to have fun and work together to go from 8’6 to 19’3”. Sam’s winning the triple of SEC, NCAA, and USATF is a big memory from last year...and we did it the way that we thought we should. We didn’t copy anyone else’s plan.
Q: Sam, tell us about a typical week of training?
A: Well, our typical week is probably not like anyone else’s. “Coach K” has been coaching me since the 1st grade, but I didn’t start off to be a pole vaulter. We live in the country, so when I was really young, we did swimming, horseback riding, deer hunting, running, and soccer among other things. I think that gives me good foundation for sports fitness. We still do all of those things today. I started going to track practice in first grade. During that time, Dad taught me to be dedicated to my craft and to keep myself in top
condition at all times. He’s also taught me to be responsible for my own athletic career. So, with all that history in mind, for the typical week, a lot of the work simply falls on me. I’ve got to get those things done. Coach K will set a goal for our training and parameters to achieve that goal. It falls to me to come to our one-on-one training sessions in top condition. I’ve got to eat right and stay as healthy and as ready as possible so that I can achieve his training targets. “Papa K” has a full-time job as a teacher, he also has my Mom and my brothers and sister to consider, so I try to be pretty organized with his time. We jump at night indoors at Ole Miss after everyone has left the football facility. We have to move the pit in ourselves quite a bit, so that takes some energy out of the training. We usually vault Mondays and Wednesday nights on a competition week and we work on speed and strength on the other days. We film every jump and review it between reps. We’ve done that for years now. Our program is six days a week. If we don’t compete on a weekend, we throw in a Saturday vault. If I feel good, we will jump high bars (over 18’). If I’m average, we make it challenging with short runs, low grips and 16’10”-17-10” bars. I also have Army ROTC training and physical fitness requirements to work into the week. Those workouts
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have only made me stronger for track and tougher in competition. Coach K also throws some new things in there to keep it fresh so he doesn’t tell me exactly what we plan to do every day. He makes those decisions as the training session plays out. I go to the chiro and physio on my own and I also do a lot of strength training and core on my own away from practice. In warmer weather, we love to practice at Oxford High School. Papa K and I pretty much built that facility. I’ve jumped there for 10 years now and that’s home. We still mix in a lot of riding, hunting, and outdoor sports. Q: Sam, Compared to most elite vaulters, you grip very low but are more efficient. Is raising the grip a goal?
A: Haha! We get this question all the time! But let me ask the vault community, Why should we? That’s just a joke, of course. I raise my grips every day in training. Sometimes I raise my grip in competition depending on the needs of the day and what it takes to jump the best with the pole in my hand. Everyone seems to want to know when I will start gripping above 4.90. That I think is what is exciting! We’ve been jumping nine years and I hope to have another nine to keep improving. So if I ever start topping out, I’ll move grip! In February 2012, I was gripping 14’11 and
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jumping 17’4”. Three years later, I’m gripping 15’5 and jumping 19’3”. We will grip higher to jump higher down the road for sure. As far as Reno is concerned, we had never been out there before and were looking good on the 15’9 poles in training, so we just decided to go with those for our first trip to the Summit. We left the longer poles home for later. Next year for the Summit, we will bring all the poles.
the UST-ESSX series depending on how I’m feeling. Having great poles makes me more consistent and helps me pick the perfect pole for the conditions. Before ESSX, I mostly concentrated on technique, because we didn’t have a series. Now, with a great
Q: Tell us about your poles and series?
A: After years of trying, I finally have what vaulters have always been looking for. That is a full series of poles that works for me. My poles are made by UST-ESSX (the yellow Pole) and UST- Mamiya. They range from 15’-16’1 lengths, predominately being 4.80m poles (15’9’’) for the Indoor Season. We like our flex numbers .3 apart. My poles range from 12 to 14 flexes. For weight ratings, they tend to be 35-40 lbs. over my weight. Before ESSX, I carried only four poles to most competitions. Those flexes were usually .6 or so apart. The Brands varied depending on what worked best. #1 and #2 were for warm-up and I would start the competition on #2. I usually had a #3 pole that I could dial up a 5.50 or 5.60 on, and a #4 that was for pushing the limits. Now, I have much more versatility and selection. I can start anywhere in
series, I can dial in both the pole and the jump. Q: As a pro, I see you already have a signature line of ESSX What makes ESSX the poles. right pole for you?
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A: As we developed as a vaulter and coach team, Coach K and I were always looking for poles. As I got better, we borrowed a lot of poles. We took what we could get and experimented with every brand. Even in college, we borrowed a lot of poles.
2014, we met Bruce Caldwell at UST-Essx. He sent us a couple of his new line. At first they seemed like toys, being so light, but we gave them a try and I really liked the way the way they moved into the pit while returning with needed speed. On the first day,
We won NCAAs in 2014 on a pole we borrowed from Mississippi State and I won at Kazan in Russia on a borrowed pole from them as well! They were very kind to lend them to us. After breaking a lot of newer poles in
I went 18-3 on a 15-9 pole. The Saturday before NCAAs, Coach K organized a practice where I jumped bars on every brand with a similar grip and flex. Coach K was actually testing my choices. I got four poles for eight
Sam Kendricks
bars. Two jumps per pole. As the bars went higher, I picked up different poles. Un-consciously, I was saving the ESSX Recoil for the higher bars. I topped out that day with ESSX in my hand but it was just too close to NCAAs to switch. We ended up taking a real mixed bag of poles to Eugene. We had all four American pole makes in that tube! NCAAs was a struggle, and we needed more poles in one series, but we brought victory home with what we had. After that, we were definitely switching to ESSX as more poles came in. UST-ESSX is constantly perfecting their efficiency and quality, which is just what I’m trying to do as an athlete. A strong bond with USTESSX came in the interim between NCAAs and USAs. Bruce Caldwell and his chief Pole Engineer Rigoberto Sanchez drove all the way from Forth Worth to our home in Oxford to bring some poles they had made special for me. When they arrived, we all went down to our old high school track. When we get all set up, ‘Beto’ tells me (in front of my family) “Sam, you can be bold on these poles.” He knew I had broken five poles in 2014 (of various brands) and he added, “I don’t think you can break them.” I realized that they had a personal interest in my ability and well-being. Bruce and Beto had watched video of my technique and they had made these poles for me personally. I had jumped
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on yellow ESSX a few times, so I grabbed a yellow 4.90 pole and decided to test its limits. I vaulted amazingly well (over 19’) in training that day. We had a full tube of yellow poles to work with, so we decided to go all-in for the USATF meet in Sacramento. The 15’9 poles were spectacular. We didn’t even try the 16’1s. I jumped 18’10 ¼, and I pushed off 4’2”, which was a new efficiency milestone for me. We’ve stayed on the 15’9 length for that meet and through the winter. We have longer poles for this spring. I have absolute confidence in the safety and power in these poles. With the lighter carry weights, I can be even more of an athlete. The Recoil Advance poles help me maximize the power at the top of the jump. I believe I can jump 5’ above my grip on these great poles. The signature label was a real shock for us. We didn’t expect that at all, but when we made the commitment to UST-ESSX, they decided to return the compliment. We got everyone at the factory to sign one of my best poles, and I like for young vaulters to sign my poles at meets. I think it might give younger vaulters a connection to us and what we’re doing. As far as the TEAM KENDRICKS label is concerned, maybe some kid might like to compete on a pole that I really believe in.
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Q: What advice would the two of you offer to up and coming coaches and athletes? A: Bruce Lee once said “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once. I do fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” There is no substitute exercise for it. Vaulting as often as you can; as safe as you can. If you take on the attitude that “jumping high is not always the most important thing” you will set yourself up for a long and enjoyable career in vaulting. Q: What are your biggest goals as you go forward? Technical, training, and competition?
A: Technical – Push the envelope on how well it can actually be done. Who sets that limit for the best way, anyway?
Training – Speed! I don’t think you can every really be too fast.
Competition – Compete, plain and simple. We have worked really hard, and I feel like I belong on that top-10 world list. I want to move to the top of that someday. Q: What are your biggest concerns as you work toward these major goals? A: Coach K likes to quote Bob Richards. Bob said that in hind-
sight, he wishes he had rested more. I have to be rested, and finding time to do that can be frustrating.
Q: I almost hate to say this, but you never seem to be injured. Any insights or advice you can share?
A: Well, first of all, no man is without hurts. Coach K calls me “Stitch” sometimes. We have left pole vault practice several times to go grab a few stitches at the ER I am unashamed to say. But here are a few ideas. In a typical week of training, the “goal” to never be injured comes with a few simple choices. I break it down to three questions that my coach and I look at each day. First, am I confident enough to listen to my body? Do we listen to that old model of “mind over matter?” Do we always stick to the plan? Well, in pole vaulting, it does matter, so I listen to my body and let Coach K know if anything is sore or hurting. The typical week of training is adjusted depending on how I feel. I always want to train really hard, but that notion is constantly in flux. Second, Do I really need extracurricular sports? I told myself long ago, “No, I don’t.” I gave up hooping and pickup soccer. Outside of the occasional front yard soccer match with my little brother; training on the track, the pit, and the bar is pretty much all I do. We live in
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the country and we have horses, so riding and shooting are two of the things that we do for fun. Third, Am I going to listen to my Coach and take his advice? I’ve found a good one and I accept that he understands me. He can see from a vantage point that I (and my pride) cannot, so, I listen to him. He has a close eye on the long-range plan, mine is towards performing. Q: You got a lifetime PR at Reno and got second to the world record holder. Tell us about that experience from both coach and athlete's perspective.
A: Well, it felt just like any PR, with a few thousand screaming fans, the world record holder and the top 10 vaulters in the USA! Oddly enough, the 19’3 jump was the easiest of the night. Coach K said I “Ran on air” back down the runway. We have worked hard to make those big bars a reality and it was rewarding to see all the jumpers get the attention that they deserve at Reno. I know Coach K and I became a sharper team because of the event. We will definitely go back next year! Q: What big outdoor meets will you jump in this year? A: Because I’m still in college, we’ve had to pass on some great meets in abroad. Outdoors, for sure we will go to Drake. I’ve been told that I will get into the
Pre Classic (Eugene among my favorites). I graduate May 9th, so after that maybe a few meets in Europe? After that, hopefully the USATF at Eugene again and then World Championships in Beijing. I also hope I get to represent Army at the World Military Games in South Korea in October. If anyone has any pull with Texas Relays, I’d love to jump there again this March. I think Shawn Barber and I can jump very high if they allow us to jump together.
Q: Any advice for father/son or daughter coaching teams?
A: Well, we take a lot of pride in our father/son team. We both understand that we have two roles each. My Dad is “Coach K” at the track and “Papa K” at home. During practice, he calls me “Stitch” a lot but the rest of the time, it’s just Sam. We’ve taken a lot of inspiration from Bob Richards and his sons, Joe Dial and his family, Doug Fraley and his Dad, the Barbers, the Duplantis family, the Woepses, and many others. You will never find a more dedicated coach than that family member. They do it because they love you and they love the sport.
For the son or the daughter, try to be mature and respectful to your parent. Take responsibility for what YOU do in the competition. Usually, the Fa-
ther/Mother coach is there solely for your benefit, so make sure you show your appreciation. Young vaulters sometimes take the help of a parent for granted. Don’t be a fool. It will be fun and it will work if you make sure everyone is appreciated for what they do.
For the Father/Mother, be understanding. Kids grow at different rates and accept success/failure differently. Learn as much as you can about the sport. Take video for your athlete to watch on their own. That is invaluable. Let the kid tell you their goals, not all are in it for medals or sky scraping. When I jumped 14’, Coach K said, “You don’t have to go any higher for me.” After was my desire to improve, not his. When I gave him my goals, he went to work to learn everything he could about the World Class level. He’s a History teacher, so he’s researched more than I could know. It is a partnership. Also, not every child is Sergei or Renaud or a Yelena or Jen), but every son/ daughter can enjoy pole vault and will love doing it—so long as you are there to help. The vault is full of great people and makes great memories, have fun in the moment and don’t be surprised if you find yourself reaching higher than you thought possible. We did!
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