Speaking pole vault techniques with Katie Moon
In a distance race there are at all times questions on techniques. Ought to an athlete run from the entrance or ought to they attempt to win with a superbly timed late run to the road? There is no such thing as a proper and incorrect reply. The techniques in Pole Vault are difficult too. At what top to enter the competitors? Then whether or not to take each bar or to avoid wasting power by skipping a bar. Within the first article, Katie talked concerning the challenges of an extended championship competitors once you would possibly clear a bar and wait 45 minutes earlier than it’s your flip once more. That provides to the intrigue!
Within the Paris Olympics within the qualification spherical Molly Caudery, a 4:90 jumper, entered the competitors at 4:55, did not clear it and was out. Each different athlete had entered the competitors on the decrease top, Was it only a unhealthy day on the workplace or was it an error of judgment? We might have opinions however solely Molly is aware of the reply and I haven’t spoken to her about it!
I used to be excited about Katie’s strategy and whether or not she has a top at which she at all times is available in: “No, it actually simply relies upon how the season goes and the way I’m feeling on the day. I’ve are available anyplace from 4:40 to 4:60 and I even I as soon as opened at 4:70. So it actually simply relies on every meet. Every heat up goes to let you know one thing totally different on that individual day. Hindsight’s 2020, proper? In championships, particularly in Olympics, I’m conscious that there’s simply a lot extra emotion and adrenaline. Personally, I wish to err barely on the facet of warning, however nonetheless retaining it near what I usually are available. I normally are available about 4:50. So it’s a toss up: do I are available 5 centimetres increased 10 centimetres decrease? Once you take a look at it on a metre stick 5 cm is nothing.
“For me 4:20 doesn’t make sense as a result of 4.20 and 4.40 are going to really feel like the very same bar when I’ve a sure pole in my hand. When you rise up above 4.50, then there’s rather less room for error. I’ve are available above 4.50 greater than as soon as, however it actually simply requires you to be in your recreation. With the emotion of the championship, me personally, I wish to err on the facet of warning and select the decrease bar, if I’m between 2 beginning heights”.
Within the Paris Olympic remaining the opening bar was 4.40 and 18 or 19 vaulters began at 4:40 with simply Eliza McCartney ready for 4.60. “Yeah, I assumed that was attention-grabbing”, Katie mentioned, “particularly simply with how the prelim had gone however, , on the finish of the day, it truly is simply once you heat up, it’s about feeling comfy on the runway, and in addition determining which pole to begin on. So determining which top to return in at in pole vault is one large equation! Additionally it is the case that if you happen to’re gripping excessive on an enormous pole, you’re going to be so excessive within the air that whether or not it’s 4.40-4.50, 4.60 or 4.70, you’re going to be over that bar”.
You thought it was nearly grabbing a pole and working down the runway – however there’s numerous various things to consider!
I keep in mind as soon as Blanca Vlasic telling me that she had by no means cleared 2m in coaching and had by no means tried it as a result of apply was all about method and confidence. I puzzled if it was the identical in pole vault. “I truly very hardly ever try this [attempt high bars] as a result of in coaching I’m on a lot, a lot smaller poles. Simply actually repping out the method, so I’m going to be leaping a lot decrease. However simply by dialling that in, after I get into a contest and have the adrenaline and get on the pole, that is smart for the way I’m shifting that day. I’ll be a lot increased within the air. However, yeah, in coaching, I’m leaping considerably decrease as a result of I can’t fairly muster up that adrenaline and meet sensation. And to be trustworthy, I very hardly ever know the place the bar truly is. Quite a lot of instances Brad [Brad Walker her coach] will throw it as much as one thing and I’d by no means truly clear it as a result of I’m hitting it on the way in which up, however it’s actually nearly getting that confidence, getting off the bottom the identical means each time. After which after I go to a meet, that’s when good issues occur”.
