TRACK COACH Summer 2017 I 220 The official technical MONDO DUPLANTIS, THE GREATEST HIGH SCHOOL publication of VAULTER OF ALL TIME? . 7003 USA Track & Field AN ANALYSIS OF HAMMER THROW FACILITY SAFETY FACTORS IN NCAA DIVISION I . 7008 CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF POLE VAULT PLANT BOX LANDINGS AND POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS . 7015 PSYCHOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES FOR THROWING . 7023 FROM THE MAILBOX . 7026 USATF COACHING education SCHOOLS . 7028 TRACK FROM THE EDITOR COACH RUSS EBBETS FORMERLY TRACK TECHNIQUE 220 I SUMMER 2017 PURSUING THE HORIZON The official technical publication of USA Track & Field ED FOX......................................PUBLISHER In the time it took me to handwrite this sentence – they missed RUSS EBBETS...................................EdITOR breaking a 2-hour marathon. Sure, it was staged. Loop course, a wind TERESA TAM.........PRODUCTION & DESIGN shield, pacers, probably sucking fluids from a tube and special shoes. FRED WILT.......................FOUNDING EdITOR Special shoes, maybe next fall for New York we’ll get to see Spike Lee resurrect Mars Blackman in his bicycle cap pandering, “Kipchoge – is it the shoes?” PUBLICATION You don’t see it much anymore, the speculation on the ultimate limits of human performance. It used to be common fodder for sportswriters Track Coach is published quarterly by everywhere. Give the old crystal ball a cuff or two and see what pops Track & Field News, up. It makes for an interesting story line for these prognosticators of the 2570 W. El Camino Real, #220, pen and may generate some conversation. But in the end all these stories Mountain View, CA 94040 USA. have the certainty of a coin flip. The Fall 2017 issue (No. 221) This guessing is news, of sorts, and beats the only other time we make of Track Coach will be e-mailed to the headlines with some freak accident, a not-me positive or the lone star subscribers about October 1, 2017. redemption from a heart wrenching illness/injury/tough break to fulfill a lifelong dream to complete a 5k/10k/marathon. You fill in the details, you SUBSCRIPTIONS get the picture. $20.00 per year, U.S. or foreign. Track Coach became a digital-only But these staged events do have a place. We have to do something so the publication in 2015. athlete gets the idea, even if it is qualified with countless “if’s.” Anyway we all do this all the time in practice. Doubt it? How about sprints running with the wind or downhill? Maybe throwing a lighter implement or jumping off a box or BACK ISSUES OF springboard? One can even vault or high jump over an elastic bar that resists TRACK COACH a little “nudge” and possibly opens the door to possibility. Many back issues of Track Technique/ Track Coach, #92-208, are available Technical innovations help push the envelope. Today we have “tuned” tracks singly at $5.50 (U.S. delivery)/ that offer a consistency from one venue to the next. Mention “cinders” to today’s $9.50 (foreign delivery) each post- generation and that has about as much meaning as talking about “the boards.” paid. No issues previous The what? to #111 are available. Foam mats allow vaulters and high jumpers to do their thing much more safely To order, send your check to and with little regard for a 17 mph landing. Rule changes have expanded landing areas to help mitigate risk and produce spectacle. Track Coach 2570 W El Camino Real, And then there are the shoes. While the “sock shoe” movement always reminded Suite 220, me of The Emperor’s New Clothes fairy tale today’s shoes offer significant choices Mountain View, CA 94040 for protection, economy of motion, and even style. While I’m not sure the coefficient of friction is reduced by florescent green I have no doubt somebody at the big shoe companies has already looked into it. CONTINUED ON PAGE 7022 TRACK COACH — 7002 THE EVOLUTION OF PREP VAULTING MONDO DUPLANTIS, THE GREatEST HIGH SCHOOL VAULTER OF ALL TIME? David Bussabarger traces the history of male prep vaulting in the U.S.—from Lee Barnes in 1924 to the present day. He then provides perspective on Mondo Duplantis’s 2017 accomplishments. BY DAVID BUSSABARGER To begin with, some background fiberglass poles. Some, such as nating with the first ever jump over information about the history of John Cramer. Ron Morris, Manfred 17 feet (5.20). Pennel’s technique pole vaulting is necessary. Pole Preussger and Henry Wadsworth, was far ahead of his time with many vaulting performance is time rela- were among the best rigid vaulters technical adaptations that are still tive because of changes that have of all time (note that the world record used today. occurred over the years in poles, with a metal pole was 15-9¼ by Don runways, landing pits, training Bragg set in 1960). As a result nearly The introduction of fiberglass theory and the development of the all the best early fiberglass vaulters poles initiated the development of understanding of technique. The at this time looked essentially like foam landing pits, which gradu- last point was particularly critical rigid vaulters who bent the pole ally replaced sand or sawdust when vaulters made the transition slightly or moderately by today’s (Pennel landed in sawdust on his from rigid metal poles to bending standards (30 to 40 degrees). The first 17-footer!). Foam pits quickly fiberglass poles and technique had great exception to this trend was evolved from piles of loose scrap to be virtually reinvented. John Pennel. Pennel was the 18th foam to professionally encased foam man over 15 feet with a metal pole pits by the late 60’s. The first elite fiberglass vaulters, at the young age of 20. He switched starting in the early 60’s, were all to fiberglass in 1962 and rapidly Early runways were composed of accomplished metal pole vaulters adapted to the new pole, setting either asphalt or cinders. In the when they made the switch to seven world records in 1963, culmi- late 60’s synthetic surface tracks TRACK COACH — 7003 John Pennel (USA) over WR 16’8-3/4”/5.10, 1963 were first introduced and were also American high school vaulter to and junior vaulter to clear 15 feet available for runways (for those who reach world class status by win- in 1957 and was the 10th vaulter could afford them). Over the years ning the 1924 Olympics at age 18 ever over 15 feet. At the time Bob the design and the exact materials with a jump of 12-11½ (3.95) with Gutowski held the WR at 15-8¼. used in fiberglass poles have also a bamboo pole. Barnes also had Also set in 1957, Gutowski’s vault improved significantly. Finally, the the highest jump in the world that broke the great Dutch Wamerdam’s understanding of fiberglass tech- year with a mark of 13-21/8 (the world standard of 15-7¾. Brewer ac- nique has gradually evolved and WR at the time was 13-9¾ by the tually used an early fiberglass pole improved in the decades since the Norwegian Charles Hoff set in 1923). to set his record, but did not bend poles were introduced. Although Two years later, after graduating it and used conventional rigid pole disagreements regarding what high school, he set two WRs in the technique. He later went on to set constitutes correct technique still same meet, topping out at 14-1½ a PR of 15-4 while attending USC. exist, competent coaches are now (4.30), and becoming the third man commonplace. over 14 feet. Based on his total career accom- plishments, Paul Wilson, born in The United States has a storied The next great American prep 1947, is arguably the greatest history of great prep vaulters. Lee vaulter was Jim Brewer, born in American prep vaulter of all time Barnes, born in 1906, was the first 1938. Brewer became the first prep to date. Using a bending fiberglass TRACK COACH — 7004 pole, Wilson was the first high school Casey Carrigan, born in 1951, fortunately Carrigan failed to make vaulter and junior to clear 16 feet was the next great American prep the finals at the Olympics. In his (4.87) in 1964 as a high school phenom. Carrigan, who came from senior year in 1969 Carrigan vaulted junior. Also note that Mark Savage a family of vaulters, cleared 15-73/4 17-4 ¾ (5.30) at the Golden West had broken Brewer’s high school (4.77) his sophomore year in high Invitational. After his clearance he record the year before with a jump school in 1967. In 1968 Carrigan attempted to break John Pennel’s of 15-½. In 1965 Wilson improved shocked the vaulting world by break- then WR of 17-10¼ (5.45), but it to 16-6¾ (5.05) as a prep senior. ing Wilson’s national record and was not to be. His jump was the fourth highest in becoming the first high schooler over the world that year and the 10th 17 feet (5.18). Even more shocking College did not agree with Carrigan highest vault of all time (the world was the fact that his vault came in and his vaulting carreer floundered record was 17-4 set in 1964 by the 1968 Olympic Trials (won by as a result. Several years after drop- Fred Hansen). Bob Seagren with an new WR of ping out of college he regained his 17-9), placing him third and on the form and achieved a lifetime best Moving on to college Wilson became Olympic team. Carrigan was the of 17-10¼ (5.45).