Montana coaches build successful pole vault programs

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http://www.helenair.com/articles/2008/0 ... 0_pole.txt

Local coaches build successful pole vault programs

By JEFF WINDMUELLER - Independent Record - 05/10/08


George Lane IR staff photographer - Todd Foster, left, used to be a pole vaulter for Helena High Coach Doug LeBrun. Foster, who holds the pole vault record at Helena High, is the coach for Capital High, which makes for a friendly rivalry.
It’s a high-flying, acrobatic, push-your-body-to-the-edge kind of sport.

While the city of Helena has had its fair share of champions in other sports — from the high school and collegiate football levels to those duking it out on a soccer pitch — it has become a bit of an underground mecca for this one in particular.

Pole vault.

It’s that crazy track and field event seen on the sidelines of every high school and college meet.

The participants barrel down a rubber track, plant a fiberglass pole into a box and use their momentum, strength and recoil from the pole to propel themselves over a bar.

Montana’s top high schoolers reach over 15 feet before crashing down to the heavy mats below. Many people wouldn’t climb a ladder that high.
The sport certainly isn’t for the timid. There isn’t a pack to hide behind, a team to blame or runner to draft off. Every athlete faces this challenge alone.

“The environment’s a lot of fun,â€