Vault in mall gives Hollis shot at Olympics

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.rrstar.com/sports/x147088523 ... t-Olympics

Vault in mall gives Freeport’s Hollis shot at Olympics
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Mark Hollis
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By Matt Trowbridge
RRSTAR.COM
Posted Jun 16, 2008 @ 12:21 PM
Mark Hollis won two national titles and remained almost invisible.

Then he vaulted in a mall in Iowa and became a YouTube sensation.

Hollis, a 1999 Freeport grad, won two NAIA pole vault titles at tiny Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, but was a virtual unknown until he vaulted April 23 at a mall in West Des Moines in a publicity event for the Drake Relays. The crowd roared for Hollis and Derek Miles, who is ranked fourth in the world. Both cleared 18 feet, 8 3/4 inches, and Hollis, in particular, thrilled the 2,000 fans who jammed into the Jordan Creek Town Center.

Profile: Mark Hollis
Who: Olympic Trials qualifier
Event: Pole vault
College: Olivet Nazarene (in Bourbonnais). Graduated in 2007 with a degree in sports management
Family: Parents John and Donna Hollis of Freeport; older brother, Steve; fiancee Amanda Westcott, a senior education major at Bethel College in Miskawaka, Ind.
High school: 1999 Freeport graduate
Current residence: Elkhart, Ind.
College pole vault honors: Won the NAIA national championship in 2007 and 2006, and was runner-up in 2005.
Olympic Trials ‘B’ qualifying standard: 18 feet, 0 inches.
Olympic Trials ‘A’ qualifying standard: 18-8.
Hollis’ progression:
2005 — 16-8 3/4, NAIA runner-up
2006 — 17-2 3/4, NAIA champ
2007 — 17-5 3/4, NAIA champ
April 12, 2008 — 18-1 at Wheaton College Invitational
April 23, 2008 — 18-8 3/4 at Drake Relays
April 30, 2008 — 18-10 1/4 at University of Illinois
2004 Gold Medal height: 19-6.
Olympic Trials: June 27 to July 6 in Eugene, Ore.
“Everybody likes the underdog,â€

[BethelPV]

Sweet article!!

That camera wasn't shaking cuz of the crowd though... it was shaking because I was so excited that he was goin to the Trials!! haha!!

[IluvMarkHollis]

Great article on Mark, sums his situation up perfectly. He graduated high school in 2003, not 1999 though.


Awaiting the trials! I cant wait to go and watch!!!

[Sebes]

I was jumping at North Central College a few months ago, and there were a lot of scrappers- like myself- jumping in the 14 foot range. We were all summing each other up during warm ups and wondering who was going to win. Then there was a guy way back behind the runway keeping to himself and by the looks of it, he was also going to jump.

I wound up going over there to do some drills and caught a glimpse of his pole series. They were massive poles compared to all our 14-15 footers. At first I thought that it was some cocky over-rated decathlete who had crappy technique and jumped on big sticks. But my buddy was like, "Dude...that's not a decathlete...that's Mark Hollis, the guy who won the Grand Haven beach vault this year."

Shows what I know...because the guy was anything but cocky or over-rated, and he won that competition and went on to clear 5.75m a couple weeks later! Good luck at the trials Hollis!