Arkansas State University Invitational:
Location: Arkansas State University
Height Attained: 3.16 meters
Comments: Still learning how to vault and getting a better grasp of new technique changes. Alyssa broke her pole here, and I'm pretty sure that shook up everyone. Not the best meet, but looking forward to the next one.
Rod McCravy Memorial:
Location: University of Kentucky
Height Attained: 3.40 meters
Comments: Better meet than ASU. I was happy with how I performed and felt stronger and more technically sound here. Fast track made it easier to run.
SIU McDonald's Invite:
Location: Southern Illinois University
Height Attained: 3.40 meters
Comments: Not happy that there is no improvement as far as the numbers show, but I felt strong at this meet. Started a new diet for this meet (no eating after 6 pm). It's not hard, and it's helping. Happy with the finish, but want a higher height.
Hoosier Hills Invitational:
Location: Indiana University
Height Attained: 3.04 meters
Comments: ugh! I hate getting sick! Caught Laryngitis the Sunday before this meet and was just getting over it for the meet. I could not move on Tuesday, and stayed in bed most of Wednesday. We traveled Thursday and vaulted on Friday. It was hard, and the anitbiotics made me slow. I was happy to be able to vault and get a height with the condition I was in.
SEMO Invite:
Location: Southeast Missouri State University
Height Attained: 3.35 meters
Comments: kind of frustrated with this meet as I really wanted to get a PR, but sometimes you just have to wait it out. I was very very close to a new personal best on the last vaults, but my form wasn't all there. My first attempt at 3.50 meters, I had my left arm out almost perfectly but didn't get off the top of the pole very well. Second attempt was terrible. Third attempt, I had no left arm but got off the top of the pole better. If I could combine the first vault and the third one, I am confident that I will get that height the next height easily!!!
Monday, February 22, 2010
February 21, 2010
"Do not look to the ground for your next step; greatness lies with those who look to the horizon." -- Norwegian Proberb
Pole:
Height: 13'... 13'6
Weight: 160 lbs
Step: 7 step
Things to Work on:
1. Left arm out initially at the plant
2. Keep my hips back in the C Position off of the take off
3. Vault into the pole... don't block out!
4. Keep toes up while running.... get knees higher.
5. Work the top of the pole.
Comments:
Soooo.... it's kind of been a while since I've updated this. Just got a little too busy for a bit. I've changed poles more throughout these past few weeks than I have my entire pole vaulting career, but it's been a great experience. I'm just blowing through these poles faster than we can get them. I'll post an update on how I've done at all the meets for those that want to know. As of yet, I'm learning a lot more about the vault (more than I knew before coming to the University of Memphis, that's for sure.) I am loving this experience! Coach came up with a quote for me: "You can't read until you learn the alphabet." Basically, I can't vault the way I want to vault until I learn all the little technical things first.
Pole:
Height: 13'... 13'6
Weight: 160 lbs
Step: 7 step
Things to Work on:
1. Left arm out initially at the plant
2. Keep my hips back in the C Position off of the take off
3. Vault into the pole... don't block out!
4. Keep toes up while running.... get knees higher.
5. Work the top of the pole.
Comments:
Soooo.... it's kind of been a while since I've updated this. Just got a little too busy for a bit. I've changed poles more throughout these past few weeks than I have my entire pole vaulting career, but it's been a great experience. I'm just blowing through these poles faster than we can get them. I'll post an update on how I've done at all the meets for those that want to know. As of yet, I'm learning a lot more about the vault (more than I knew before coming to the University of Memphis, that's for sure.) I am loving this experience! Coach came up with a quote for me: "You can't read until you learn the alphabet." Basically, I can't vault the way I want to vault until I learn all the little technical things first.
Friday, January 15, 2010
January 14, 2009
"If we did all the things that we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves." -Thomas Edison
Pole:
Height: 13'
Weight: 150 lbs.
Step: 7 step
Things to Work on:
1. Left arm out!
2. Be more parallel to the box at the take off.
3. Attack the box!
4. Widen grip.
5. Keep run consistent.
Comments:
We got a new vaulter yesterday. His name is Karlis, and he's from Latvia. He's quiet and very focused on pole vaulting. He is going to be a great asset to the team. He helps me more than the others, and he really knows what he's talking about. I'm glad to have him on the team. It's going to be like having another coach really. My run was fairly consistent yesterday, but there was one run I was way off, so #5 is more of a reminder to myself than anything. Karlis told me to try to widen my grip, and I felt stronger in the vault. Now if I could just get my left arm out at the beginning of the vault, I'll be good to go! Jeez! This is frustrating, but it's great to be back in training :)
Over the Break Review
Vaulted about nine times over the break on various poles. I was working mainly on getting my left arm out. It was productive. My run feels stronger from it, and I got a lot more repetition at it (which is something I really needed). I think I'm going to start initiating the plant sooner to cause my left arm to be out more at the plant rather than having it in and then pushing it out.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
December 9, 2009
"Perserverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody." - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Pole:
Height: 12'
Weight: 130 lbs
Step: 4 step
Things to Work On:
1. C Position
2. Left leg long at the plant
3. Left arm straight
4. Jump into the vault
5. Run Fast!!!
Comments:
Much too cold to vault today! It was definitely a high of about 35 degrees today! Plus wind chill. I was freezing! Things I learned about pole vualting while it's cold: the poles get stiffer in the cold, move up your step because you can't run, and stay warm!!!
Pole:
Height: 12'
Weight: 130 lbs
Step: 4 step
Things to Work On:
1. C Position
2. Left leg long at the plant
3. Left arm straight
4. Jump into the vault
5. Run Fast!!!
Comments:
Much too cold to vault today! It was definitely a high of about 35 degrees today! Plus wind chill. I was freezing! Things I learned about pole vualting while it's cold: the poles get stiffer in the cold, move up your step because you can't run, and stay warm!!!
December 7, 2009
"When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps." - Confucius
Pole:
Height: 12'
Weight: 130 lbs
Step: 4 step
Things to Work On:
1. C Position
2. Left leg straight and out at the take off
3. Left arm straight!!!
4. Chest out
5. Eyes Up
Comments:
We decided that until I can get my plant perfect, I will not be able to get up on the bigger poles. Therefore, we took one of our smallest poles and started working on getting my left arm out. Apparently it's a lot easier said than done. I've been getting away with terrible form for too long. The take off is what we're going to be working on for a long time.
Pole:
Height: 12'
Weight: 130 lbs
Step: 4 step
Things to Work On:
1. C Position
2. Left leg straight and out at the take off
3. Left arm straight!!!
4. Chest out
5. Eyes Up
Comments:
We decided that until I can get my plant perfect, I will not be able to get up on the bigger poles. Therefore, we took one of our smallest poles and started working on getting my left arm out. Apparently it's a lot easier said than done. I've been getting away with terrible form for too long. The take off is what we're going to be working on for a long time.
Monday, December 7, 2009
December 5, 2009
Meet Location: Arkansas State University
Height attained: 10'3
Pole:
Height: 13'; 13'6
Weight: 150 lbs; 140 lbs
Step: 7 step
Things to Work On:
1. Swing to the negative.
2. Left arm out on the plant.
3. Remember to run fast on the runway in practice as well as in competition.
4. Need to attack the box on the plant.
5. Relax!!!
Comments:
Definitely need to spend more time with the 140 pole. It's looking like the shorter 150 is going to be too small in the near future which means that the 140 and I had better start getting along. I did not hit the heights I wanted to, but the vaulting in and of itself went well. My best vault was the final one for sure. I was a lot faster on the runway in competition that I am in practice (something that will be changing very soon). Looking forward to the next practice where I can take what I've learned and apply it to the vault. I also had the oppurtunity to vault with some amazing athletes that I have seen in PV documentaries and have watched video of. I was like a little kid when I saw Earl Bell!!! haha Living the dream.
Height attained: 10'3
Pole:
Height: 13'; 13'6
Weight: 150 lbs; 140 lbs
Step: 7 step
Things to Work On:
1. Swing to the negative.
2. Left arm out on the plant.
3. Remember to run fast on the runway in practice as well as in competition.
4. Need to attack the box on the plant.
5. Relax!!!
Comments:
Definitely need to spend more time with the 140 pole. It's looking like the shorter 150 is going to be too small in the near future which means that the 140 and I had better start getting along. I did not hit the heights I wanted to, but the vaulting in and of itself went well. My best vault was the final one for sure. I was a lot faster on the runway in competition that I am in practice (something that will be changing very soon). Looking forward to the next practice where I can take what I've learned and apply it to the vault. I also had the oppurtunity to vault with some amazing athletes that I have seen in PV documentaries and have watched video of. I was like a little kid when I saw Earl Bell!!! haha Living the dream.
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