Vaulters running the 200 meters

[Dave eckes]

I am dealing with a head coach who is insistant on all of my vaulters to run the 200 meters in all of our events. In my opinion vaulters don't run around corners very well. What do ya'll think?

[AVC Coach]

In my opinion vaulters don't run around corners very well. What do ya'll think?

What does that mean? I would imagine most vaulters are more capable of running the 200m than anyone else on the track team.

[ACvault]

They should be fine. However, I would say the 100 meters would be more ideal.

[wurster490]

Steve Hooker has run 200's in the past and has a pr of 21.1.

[CowtownPV]

I'm not sure why the coach wants all vaulters to run the 200 but I would definitely say let them be part of the team and run some events. Anywhere they can help the team, they should compete. Many elite vaulters were high school hurdlers, long jumpers and relay members. They are only kids once, let them do as many things as they can.

[kev44000]

I have been at meets where coach's were more interested in points then the athlete. I have seen vaulters run other events only to be to tired to vault well. One year at state we waited for the favorite to run the 110 hurddles, when he returned he did not clear another bar and lost the state title. I think it is bull for a good to elite vaulter to do other events unless they want to, and then a parent or coach should step in. Just my 2 cents.

[Dave eckes]

Kev, I like your style. Thanx

[rainbowgirl28]

I am dealing with a head coach who is insistant on all of my vaulters to run the 200 meters in all of our events. In my opinion vaulters don't run around corners very well. What do ya'll think?

It's important for high school vaulters to run other events. The earlier they are in their development, the more they should be doing this. However, it doesn't mean they have to run a specific race every single meet, and it will depend somewhat on the kid, what they like doing, and if they are injury prone. I think making all of the vaulters run the 200 every meet is dumb, but as a high school coach, you bet I made my kids do 2-3 other events every meet unless it was an Invitational, and they all ran the 4x400 at least once.

If your vaulters have a history of only doing the vault at every meet, I think a good compromise with your coach would be that the kids do at least one or two other events at all of the weekday meets, but let the kids pick the events. You could make them all run the 200 at least once, but there is no need to do it every meet.

[CowtownPV]

I have been at meets where coach's were more interested in points then the athlete. I have seen vaulters run other events only to be to tired to vault well. One year at state we waited for the favorite to run the 110 hurddles, when he returned he did not clear another bar and lost the state title. I think it is bull for a good to elite vaulter to do other events unless they want to, and then a parent or coach should step in. Just my 2 cents.

I guess I am one of the few who thinks of track as a team sport but that is how I view it. In all the years I was a head coach I put the team above the individual. I thought that was my job. I would never make a kid leave an event for another unless I thought he had a chance to be succesfull in both. In college I saw Billy Olsen leave a chance at a new american record to go get 4th or 5th in the conference 100 meters. To make a kid go run the 200 just because, makes no sense to me but if he can help the team by running it, thats a different story. Since I view track as a team sport a vaulter saying he wouldn't do another event would be just like a wide reciever saying he doesn't block or a guard in basketball saying he is just there to shoot, defense is for someone else. It is the head coaches job to place the athletes where they can have the most individual success and also help the team.

[kev44000]

Never said a vaulter would say he would not do another event, they will do what the coach tells them. This was my veiw as a parent of an elite vaulter and watching alot lot of bad coach's run a track team from my area. I have seen it the other way also two girls entered in the pole vault ,shot etc and caoch's here enter girls for the points because they can stiff pole five feet or throw a shot 15 feet. I know it is not this way everywhere. Our school's track team has 104 athletes no need for a thrower or vaulter to run unless the want to, not because they have to.

[birdi_gurlie]

At my school, all vaulters do other events, usually 2 more.
I usually do the vault, 200, and 400 or 4x400. I did the 100m but it was during the vault and I'm not going to get any points [or get NEAR it for that matter] so I stay for vault. A lot of our guys do 4x800. Some of our girls do other field events. We usually do a 400m or a 4x400.

[smokinvaulter1]

I was A 16'+ vaulter in high school that ran the 200, 400, 4x100 and 4x400 and qualified for state in all of them.