Written by When one thinks of Culture In Sports, Track & Field (specifically the Pole Vault) embodies the mentality that any athlete should aspire to be a leader and to work hard. When I was eleven years old, I made the decision to be a diverse athlete. Well, that did not work; I fell in love with the Pole Vault Culture.
The Pole Vault Culture is the most unique culture in the realm of Sport. Being a former vaulter, I can assure any reader that we are the most obscure mixture of a good type of crazy (I mean come on, we’re running full speed into a metal box and flinging ourselves into the air) but we are also extremely caring and supportive. As Mike Stark, the Pole Vault Coach at Carnegie Mellon University puts it, “The Pole Vault culture embodies competition between coaches and athletes alike. We’re different from other sports though; we care about our competitors’ success too.”
But being a leader is both a unique and underestimated talent. I have been blessed with the opportunity to have been a Captain of Track and Field teams several times; this is not uncommon for a Pole Vaulter, though.
Pole Vaulters care about people and camaraderie, but moreover, our culture cares about sportsmen/women. We may not embody the most widely recognized event, but I would challenge anyone to suggest that we are not the most supportive event in Track & Field.
Be supportive to your teammates and competitors, be an example of the world we all want to see, because the members of the Pole Vault Culture will be there for you. Be leaders, be sportsmen/women.
Cheers to Sports everyone.
In the photo: Jacob Hensh and Jeff Core (WVU Pole Vault Record Holder Age 44) post competition.