When Justin Horne joined the high school track and field team as a freshman, he didn’t know pole vaulting was an option. But as a competitive rock climber, the challenge of the event quickly caught his attention, and he’s stuck with it all four years.
Now a senior, Justin shares leadership of the team with senior Jack Viti, also a four-year vaulter. Together, with support from second-year pole vault coach Eric Norberg and head coach Tom Moul, they’re working hard, not just to restore the event, but also to improve their own personal performances. There hasn’t been a school record set in the event in more than 50 years.
Some athletes had shied away from the event, known for its complexity and technicality, while others aren’t comfortable leaving the ground. The Foxes are taking on that challenge by having the older vaulters serve as mentors to the underclassmen. In fact, it’s something that Justin and Jack enjoy doing.
For Justin, the fear factor wasn’t an issue.
“It can seem scary and very unnatural at first,” says Justin, who also competes in the high jump. “I was pretty fearless and willing to commit, which allowed me to fly through the early stage of the learning curve.”
Jack, also a high jumper who wrestles during the winter and played for the Foxes football team for three years, says his multisport background has been helpful in building great upper body strength and body awareness – all are important for his approach, pole plant, and forceful hurdle through the air and over the bar.
This indoor season marked a major milestone for the event: it was the first time the Foxes fielded an indoor pole vault team. Jack helped set a school benchmark of 10’6” and has since improved his personal outdoor best with an 11’6” vault. His next goal is to clear 12 feet.
“I’m not sure why, but I always wanted to do pole vaulting, but the middle school didn’t offer it,” Jack says. “It’s a really fun sport, and there’s no better feeling than the adrenal rush that comes when you clear the bar.”
Justin adds, “In my opinion, pole vaulting is the most fun track event. There’s something about flinging yourself in the air with a ‘bendy’ pole that is very enjoyable to me. It’s also an extremely technical and complex event with so much more that goes into it than people realize.”
Dedicated Coach Makes a Difference
Both athletes agree that success in pole vaulting depends upon mastering the technique and finer points. When Jack was starting out, the team lacked a coach dedicated to the event. Wanting to avoid bad habits from developing, after his sophomore year, Jack sought instruction at an outside facility where Olympians and elite pole vaulters train.
Coach Norberg learned about the program from Jack and encouraged the team to attend the weekly 90-minute training sessions for three weeks.
“We are done with the sessions now and are working to take what was learned and move forward,” says coach Norberg. “Both Jack and Justin have improved, and I’m seeing some real potential in the others who attended the sessions, including sophomores Logan Shirk, Oliver Wright, and Hunter Lisotto.”
It’s not only the guys who have taken an interest in the event. Sophomore Madison Cook, a former gymnast, has shown promise, and juniors Jeanne Leboulanger, Lily Hunkele, and Aavree Hill also attended the clinic sessions and are exploring the event.
Mentoring the Next Generation
Coach Norberg praises Justin and Jack for their leadership and willingness to mentor the younger generation.
“What I want to do is teach the younger kids,” says Jack, who is headed to Washington & Jefferson College in the fall to wrestle and continue his studies. “I developed some bad habits when I first started, and I want to keep that from happening to the younger athletes so they don’t get stuck (in their progress). Hopefully, they will take an interest in the sport, too.”