Jake Arnold aims for local pole vault record
Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 12:05 pm
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20 ... ult-record
Arnold aims for local pole vault record
By ERIC BRANCH
PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Monday, April 27, 2009 at 3:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, April 27, 2009 at 9:56 p.m.
Professional decathlete Jake Arnold, an alternate on the 2008 U.S. Olympic team, will appear at the Santa Rosa All-City track and field meet at Santa Rosa High on Friday night and compete in an exhibition pole vault.
Arnold, 25, the two-time defending U.S. indoor champion who attended Maria Carrillo, will attempt to set the record for the highest pole vault in the Redwood Empire. The record of 16 feet, 6 inches is held by Tim McDonald and Brett Hyatt. McDonald went 16-6 while competing at Santa Rosa Junior College in 1978 and Hyatt, who will attend Friday’s meet, hit the mark at SRJC in 1981.
“We want to bring something special to Sonoma County,” said meet director Doug Courtemarche. “And Jake’s one of our own.”
The 16-6 clearance shouldn’t be a problem for Arnold — his personal-best vault is 17-5 — but there are some safety issues that need to be addressed to accommodate such an attempt.
For starters, a pole vault pit — the mat used for landing — will have to be borrowed from SRJC because a high school pit wouldn’t provide enough cushion. Extensions will also have to be added to Santa Rosa High’s pole vault standards, which reach just over 16 feet.
“I do want to make sure the landing area is safe enough,” Arnold said. “I don’t want to break myself when I land.”
In addition, an oak tree near the pole vault area at Santa Rosa High has been trimmed back twice to accommodate Arnold’s attempts.
The exhibition, which is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m., is the brainchild of Maria Carrillo assistant track coach Greg Fogg, a track enthusiast who competed at the University of Alabama and is the co-owner of Heart & Sole Sports in Santa Rosa. Arnold will sign autographs before and after the exhibition and will also appear at Heart & Sole from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday.
Heart & Sole is providing Arnold’s airfare from his home in Tucson, Ariz., to Santa Rosa.
Fogg also arranged for former Montgomery High star Matt Tillinghast to compete with Arnold. Tillinghast, who owns the All-City pole vault record of 14-6, also has the second-best high school mark in Empire history at 15-7.
Arnold says he’s looking forward to promoting track and field in Sonoma County. And he’s also excited about the rest of his season as he continues training for his ultimate goal — the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
Arnold, a two-time NCAA champion at the University of Arizona, will leave for Europe on May 5 and compete at the Multistars Decathlon in Desenzano, Italy from May 9-10. Arnold will spend the next three weeks in Austria and compete at the Hypo Meet in Gotzis from May 30-31.
The biggest date on his calendar, however, is the U.S. Track and Field Championships, which will be held June 25-28 in Eugene, Ore. The top three finishers at the U.S. Championships will compete at the IAFF World Championships in Berlin in August.
Arnold, who battled hip and groin problems last year, said his 2009 season has included less time in the training room.
“I’ve been staying really healthy and I’m feeling strong and fast,” Arnold said. “I’m excited for what’s ahead.”
The All-City meet will begin with field events at 5 p.m. Running events will start at 6:30 p.m.
Arnold aims for local pole vault record
By ERIC BRANCH
PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Monday, April 27, 2009 at 3:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, April 27, 2009 at 9:56 p.m.
Professional decathlete Jake Arnold, an alternate on the 2008 U.S. Olympic team, will appear at the Santa Rosa All-City track and field meet at Santa Rosa High on Friday night and compete in an exhibition pole vault.
Arnold, 25, the two-time defending U.S. indoor champion who attended Maria Carrillo, will attempt to set the record for the highest pole vault in the Redwood Empire. The record of 16 feet, 6 inches is held by Tim McDonald and Brett Hyatt. McDonald went 16-6 while competing at Santa Rosa Junior College in 1978 and Hyatt, who will attend Friday’s meet, hit the mark at SRJC in 1981.
“We want to bring something special to Sonoma County,” said meet director Doug Courtemarche. “And Jake’s one of our own.”
The 16-6 clearance shouldn’t be a problem for Arnold — his personal-best vault is 17-5 — but there are some safety issues that need to be addressed to accommodate such an attempt.
For starters, a pole vault pit — the mat used for landing — will have to be borrowed from SRJC because a high school pit wouldn’t provide enough cushion. Extensions will also have to be added to Santa Rosa High’s pole vault standards, which reach just over 16 feet.
“I do want to make sure the landing area is safe enough,” Arnold said. “I don’t want to break myself when I land.”
In addition, an oak tree near the pole vault area at Santa Rosa High has been trimmed back twice to accommodate Arnold’s attempts.
The exhibition, which is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m., is the brainchild of Maria Carrillo assistant track coach Greg Fogg, a track enthusiast who competed at the University of Alabama and is the co-owner of Heart & Sole Sports in Santa Rosa. Arnold will sign autographs before and after the exhibition and will also appear at Heart & Sole from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday.
Heart & Sole is providing Arnold’s airfare from his home in Tucson, Ariz., to Santa Rosa.
Fogg also arranged for former Montgomery High star Matt Tillinghast to compete with Arnold. Tillinghast, who owns the All-City pole vault record of 14-6, also has the second-best high school mark in Empire history at 15-7.
Arnold says he’s looking forward to promoting track and field in Sonoma County. And he’s also excited about the rest of his season as he continues training for his ultimate goal — the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
Arnold, a two-time NCAA champion at the University of Arizona, will leave for Europe on May 5 and compete at the Multistars Decathlon in Desenzano, Italy from May 9-10. Arnold will spend the next three weeks in Austria and compete at the Hypo Meet in Gotzis from May 30-31.
The biggest date on his calendar, however, is the U.S. Track and Field Championships, which will be held June 25-28 in Eugene, Ore. The top three finishers at the U.S. Championships will compete at the IAFF World Championships in Berlin in August.
Arnold, who battled hip and groin problems last year, said his 2009 season has included less time in the training room.
“I’ve been staying really healthy and I’m feeling strong and fast,” Arnold said. “I’m excited for what’s ahead.”
The All-City meet will begin with field events at 5 p.m. Running events will start at 6:30 p.m.