US Athletes' Poles getting to international meets

[jmayesvaultmom]

I know that many have problems getting their poles to meets, but why should athletes representing USA have that trouble? Are we going to have problems getting Toby's or Derek's or Tim's poles to Greece? You would think that the US could charter a plane to get all the USA athletes to these meets that would be big enough to just put the poles on the plane!!!! Good grief...this isn't the stone age!!!!

[tim hutzley]

just tie um on the roof of the plane

[rainbowgirl28]

Hey I got the inside scoop on the World Juniors pole situation from Jenny's mom

USATF contracted with Continental Airlines to take the poles with the athletes to the 2004 World Junior Championships in Italy from Newark, NJ. The contract was signed and then 48 hours before the team was to leave for Italy,  Continental notified USATF that they WOULD NOT take the poles. So, we had to scramble to have them shipped over to Italy. Stevie, Chip and Brad's poles made it to Italy in about 10 days in time for Prelims but Jenny's poles did not get there until the nite before finals 14 days later!!!

[Scott Go Pre]

just tie um on the roof of the plane

I got some rope to tie them down with

It would be cool to have the poles parachute into the stadium just before the warm up.

[bma11]

Hey I got the inside scoop on the World Juniors pole situation from Jenny's mom

USATF contracted with Continental Airlines to take the poles with the athletes to the 2004 World Junior Championships in Italy from Newark, NJ. The contract was signed and then 48 hours before the team was to leave for Italy,  Continental notified USATF that they WOULD NOT take the poles. So, we had to scramble to have them shipped over to Italy. Stevie, Chip and Brad's poles made it to Italy in about 10 days in time for Prelims but Jenny's poles did not get there until the nite before finals 14 days later!!!

thanks for the scoop, becca. i was wondering....

[jmayesvaultmom]

Key word "CONTRACTED"..... how can these companies just blow off a contract? Can we say "LAWSUIT"? Sure hope they didn't contract with them for the Olympics!!!!!

[TreyDECA]

my poles never even made it to the olympic trials, nor did they make it the NACAC's two weeks later in montreal. i have no faith in shipping... better off driving them.

[jmayesvaultmom]

Pole Fault
Talk about lost luggage.

Champion pole vaulter Dmitri Markov may be forced to compete with an unfamiliar pole after his own went missing en route from his home in Australia.

The three airlines that Markov used have been unable to trace the pole since he arrived in Europe two weeks ago. The 2001 world champion, Markov already has had to use a different pole for a number of competitions since his arrival.

"I hope that it can be found or he can find a good replacement," said John Coates, president of the Australian Olympic Committee. Markov has said that the loss of his pole would be a tough break for him.

Ya right...his "pole"...like he only has one pole..hahah

[zack]

How can they just lose poles so easily? It seems like its a fairly common occurrence. I'm sure the elite athletes who are sponsored by pole companies can get them replaced pretty quickly though.