Brits Pub Vault: Canada's Alysha Newman Won the Women's, US's Mark Hollis the Men's Title

Canadian Olympian Alysha Newman won the women's Brits Pub Vault title and Mark Hollis the men's.  Both took home a $1500 check for the top man and woman finishers.  Newman, who holds all of the Canadian junior records, came close to setting a new Canadian Women's Pole Vault record on her final jump of the night, a close attempt at clearing 15'3".

Hollis took three unsuccessful tries at 19'.25," but his season is not over. He's off to Europe for several more competitions, a mix of "street" and stadium events.  Hollis said that while he didn't clear the 19 foot plus jump it was good practice for taking another shot at clearing 19+.

Disappointed at not making the US team in the vault for the Rio Olympics(He finished fourth in the trials losing out on the final spot on misses as he and Logan Cunningham vaulted the same height.) Hollis wants to finish the year on a high note.

"I was really nervous," Mark said of the Olympic Trials.  Things were not in sync.  Instead of getting in that "zone" where you don't think, you just vault, Hollis was outside his "comfort zone."  Nothing seemed effortless.  Instead he tried to force things.

"Going in I knew I should have been on the team  I knew I was fit and ready to go."  After finishing fifth in the 2012 trials. Having had a breakthrough year in 2014 where he rose as high as second in the World rankings.  Hollis had high hopes for 2016.

Instead he's had to regroup, leave the past in the past, and concentrate on what he does best.  Unlike many athletes, he understands that there is more to the "job," than merely getting over the bar.  When he was going for 19 feet at Brits, he rocked to the music broadcast over the loudspeaker, put his hand up behind his ear, urging the crowd clap, to get into the event.

Mark Hollis. photo courtesy of USATF

"We're entertainers," he says about his theatrics.  "The show goes on and you want to do something they will remember so they will come back next year."  And lest you think it's all show, all you have to do is watch the routine Hollis and the other vaulters go through.  Prior to each jump, Mark goes through the meticulous process of getting the right pole, putting on the tape, sticky sprays, and talcum on his hands and the grip end of the pole.

"Most vaulters are OCD"  about their equipment, he said, and they have their routines.  As he was standing on the far end of the runway Hollis would hold his pole in his right hand like it was a long walking stick and he'd walk, bounce, down the runway.  Turn around and walk back.  Put the pole down and go back and put down a marker on the side of the runway so he had intermediate check points that tell him if he has the right step pattern and speed to get him in the right position for the all important pole plant in the "box," Controlling the speed and the plant allows the vaulter to  drive the energy of the run into the pole.  As he plants, his arms are extended.  His hands grip near the top end of the pole and jam the tip into the box.  The feet and legs drive the body forward generating the power that  bends the pole and launches him airbourne.  On a good vault you are on autopilot.

Your feet leave the ground and your hips rock the legs and feet in an upward arc.  You become a gymnast, twisting, adjusting the flight of the body over the bar.  In milliseconds the body tells the brain that it's going well, no need to adjust or quickly calls for corrections if something is out of sync.

Newman knows the instinctual body control necessary to successfully clear the bar and drop down into the pit.  She started her athletic career in grade school as a gymnast until her body "grew up." She was no longer the tiny athlete with the low center of gravity that made spinning, bouncing, doing handstands and tumbling less taxing on the body.  The wear and tear on her body resulted in disk issues in her back that cost her a year on the sidelines.  By that time her English teacher saw her running and told her mother that she should come out for track.

She started as a hurdler until her coach told her she should try the pole vault.  It wasn't love at first site, but there was success from the beginning.  Instead of the back issues, now healed, from gymnastics, Alysha only had to deal with sore feet, or hips, or other mild aches and pains, but she began clearing record heights from the beginning, a "natural" of sorts, and that progression hasn't stopped.

This year Newman made the team for Canada and finished 17th in her first Olympics.  "I want to go a total of five Olympics," she says.  Now that she has graduated from the University of Miami where she finished runner up at NCAAs, she'll be getting a new coach and wants to get into stiffer competition.  Diamond League meets, the pathways to a second Olympic Games.

Hollis has equally lofty objectives.  He's not intimidated by the progression in the event that has seen the 20 foot vault as a challenge, not a miracle.  Hollis approaches each competition hoping to go higher, improving on his best.  Like Newman he feels the same aches and pains.  He had the masseur available to the athletes  at Brits rub some heat generating jell on his lower back prior to the competition.  During warm ups he'd felt some twinges and with the temperature getting colder as the sun went down, he didn't want his back to stiffen up on him.

The other adjustment that Hollis and the other vaulters faced was vaulting "under the lights."  He hadn't done night vaulting before and said that going in and out of darkness and bright light took some adaptations.  The lights focused on the box and the front of the pole vault pit were adjusted during the competition as others raised concerns over the light placement.  Clearing a height successfully was challenging enough without throwing in another obstacle.

While vaulting in these conditions might provide a unique backdrop for the spectators, it is a concern for the athletes.  Vaulters are adaptable creatures, however, and they rose to the challenge.

Shadows hiding @Lilvaulter12, but she's here :) @alyshanewman @toripena @lesliebrost @melindawithrow @thevaultchick pic.twitter.com/0WidZyd9Fw

— Kelsie Ahbe (@ahbevaulting) September 4, 2016

Some of the best vaulters in the world!#BritsPubVault pic.twitter.com/VSsIk1Lde2

— Edina Track & Field (@EdinaHornetTF) September 4, 2016

Brits Pub Vault Results HERE

Brit's Pub Vault Video

The official 2015 Brit's Pub Vault video is up! Check it out here: https://t.co/Fo6RaNmtSF #britspubvault

— TwinCities TrackClub (@TwinCitiesTC) September 11, 2015

The Winning Vault

@scottyhous launching at 5.63m (18' 5.5") for a new PR and to be named @Britspubvault champion. pic.twitter.com/vjNyW6lYdz

— Richey Athletics (@RicheyAthletics) September 9, 2015

Crowd Pleasing Evening at Brit's Pub Vault

It was sitting room only for the second annual Brit's Pub Vault in Minneapolis as the crowd politely clapped and cheered on the elite vaulters as darkness settled over the bar's rooftop.  The fans were treated to an expected coronation in the women's elite vault and a battle for first in the men's elite vault that had an unpredicted winner.

#BritsPubVault Photo of the Day CONGRATS @MelissaGergel - New Brits Champ! http://t.co/DmEMo1GMre @BritsPubVault pic.twitter.com/XAZ9bx7zd7

— Mike McCarthy (@McCarthysan) September 6, 2015

#BritsPubVault Photo of the Day CONGRATS Scott Houston - New Brits Champ! http://t.co/DmEMo1GMre @BritsPubVault pic.twitter.com/ytA7n8FCkc

— Mike McCarthy (@McCarthysan) September 6, 2015

University of Oregon grad Melissa Gergel won the women's vault at her opening height of 13'7.25"/4.15meters.  The only drama was that she needed to vault three times to do it.  North Carolina grad Scott Houston outfoxed and out vaulted his more experienced rivals to win the men's title, clearing a personal best of 18' 5.5"/5.63m on his second try.

Nursing an injured right shoulder, Houston said he was forced to give extra attention to his vault mechanics to make sure the limb could survive.  He had tested his shoulder at the University of Minnesota on Wednesday, taking five jumps to make sure his injured wing was going to withstand the stress.  On Saturday, he waited until some of the other vaulters had already cleared two heights before he took his first vault at 5.33 meters.

The next height, 5.48 meters, Houston believed would be when the real competition would begin.  Dressed in all black, Houston cleared 5.33m with room to spare and no pain in the shoulder.  He did the same at 5.48 as the men's field shrunk from nine starters to three remaining vaulters: Houston, defending Brits Pub champion Jeff Coover, and Jack Whitt, who also cleared 5.48 on their first try, but only Coover and Houston had no misses until the next height.

On his second attempt at 5.63 Houston sailed over the crossbar, putting the pressure on Coover and Whitt to match him.  Neither could and Houston took home the $1500 check awarded to the top male and female athlete in the elite category.  It was a great way to end a year that saw Houston vault nine of his best ever heights, frequently setting new PRs.  He took three shots at the Olympic qualifying standard, two of which were near misses, but it isn't the Olympics that will be his main focus for 2016.

#BritsPubVault champ Scott Houston's attempt at the Olympic standard 18'8". Really close to making it. pic.twitter.com/R7LJysbrOB

— Scott Meier (@ScottMeier1) September 6, 2015

Just as in the Brits competition, Houston knows there are plenty of vaulters in the US who have a stronger resume than he does.  "There's only three spots open," he said referring to Olympic qualifying.  With his present accomplishments, he would be a long shot at best to grab one of them, and while the winner's check is nice, it will only go so far.  With two sports-related degrees, one from North Carolina and the other from Indiana, Houston will be pursuing a career in coaching and related activities while hopefully continuing to improve his own vaulting.  The focus being on improvement, not an Olympic dream, he says.

He won't turn it down if it happens, but he's not ready to think of himself as an Olympic team contender. Others were giving him the star treatment, however.  Rochester Century's Andrianna(Andy) Jacobs, who won the women's B title at Brits, celebrated her birthday by easily winning the expected battle with Northfield standout Alexis(Lexi) Keifer, who won the B title last year.  Jacobs was flawless on her first four vaults, while Keifer went out with three misses on her opening height.

Both are being actively recruited, as Jacobs vaulted as high as Gergal in winning the US Junior Olympics 16-17 title this summer.  Jacobs was a gymnast and diver before she switched to the pole vault and prior to winning the JO title, still harbored thoughts of continuing with diving as well as vaulting in college.  She was also a bit star struck by Houston, as she had him autograph one of her training shoes.  If the three time Minnesota State champion in the vault  continues her success, others may be getting in line for her autograph.

#BritsPubVault Photoofthe Day @MitchellValli RIPS IT UP http://t.co/DmEMo1GMre @BritsPubVault http://t.co/Y9kZrAD7IX pic.twitter.com/1p9H3ph8nT

— Mike McCarthy (@McCarthysan) September 6, 2015

The men's B title went to Northern Illinois' Corey Szamlewski, who won a dual with defending B men's champ Mitch Valli that was decided on fewer misses.  Szamlewski, who intends to help Coover with coaching at NIU in 2016,  cleared 15'11.75"/4.87m on his first try.  Valli needed two vaults to make that height.  Both had near misses at 5.02m, but neither could put the other away.  Valli will be vaulting for Mankato State in 2016, Szamlewski wants to "give something back" to the sport through his coaching while continuing to do some vaulting.  The pair might even find themselves locked in another battle next year at Brits.

#BritsPubVault Photo of the Day Corey Szamlewski adds an O http://t.co/DmEMo1GMre @BritsPubVault @JeffCoover pic.twitter.com/aEVM35NjbL

— Mike McCarthy (@McCarthysan) September 6, 2015

Not the note I wanted to end the year on... But I'd still say our 2nd #britspubvault was a smashing… https://t.co/sfyRdK4NAB

— Leslie Brost (@LeslieBrost) September 6, 2015

Brits Pub Vault Results

Women Pole Vault Masters
========================================================================
    Name                    Year Team                    Finals
========================================================================
Flight  1
  1 Blackledge, Laura            Unattached               3.20m   10-06.00
     3.05 3.20 3.35
      XXO  XXO  XXX
  2 Schmitz, Lyndie              Unattached               3.05m   10-00.00
     2.75 2.90 3.05 3.20
       XO    O    O  XXX
  3 White, Caroline              Unattached               2.75m    9-00.25
     2.75 2.90
        O    P

  Men Pole Vault Masters
========================================================================
    Name                    Year Team                    Finals
========================================================================
  1 Heinz, Jonathan              Unattached               4.55m   14-11.00
     4.25 4.40 4.55 4.85
       XO    P  XXO  XXX
  2 White, Steve                 Unattached               4.25m   13-11.25
     4.25 4.40
        O  XXX
  3 Richards, Trevor             Unattached              J4.25m   13-11.25
     3.80 3.95 4.10 4.25 4.40
        O    O   XO    O  XXX
  4 Rummeth, Matt                Unattached               3.80m   12-05.50
     3.50 3.65 3.80 3.95
        O    O    O  XXX
  5 Moeller, James               Unattached              J3.80m   12-05.50
     3.35 3.50 3.65 3.80 3.95
       XO    O    O   XO  XXX
  6 Richard, Eric                Unattached               3.65m   11-11.75
     3.65 3.80
       XO  XXX
  7 Soule, Mike                  Unattached               2.45m    8-00.50
     2.45 2.60
       XO  XXX
 -- Proops, Martin               Unattached                  NH
     3.20
      XXX

#BritsPubVault Photo of the Day Must be the Group C medalists! http://t.co/DmEMo1GMre @annaposbergh @BritsPubVault pic.twitter.com/oVQsAIwIf8

— Mike McCarthy (@McCarthysan) September 5, 2015

 Women Pole Vault Group C
========================================================================
    Name                    Year Team                    Finals
========================================================================
  1 Patton, Cat                  Unattached               3.35m   10-11.75
     3.20 3.35 3.50
        O   XO  XXX
  2 Posbergh, Anna               Unattached               3.20m   10-06.00
     3.05 3.20 3.35
        O    O  XXX
   3 Novak, Kendall               Unattached               3.05m   10-00.00
     2.75 2.90 3.05 3.20
        O    O    O  XXX
  3 Kolbeck, Kally               Unattached               3.05m   10-00.00
     2.45 2.60 2.75 2.90 3.05 3.20
        O    O    O    O    O  XXX
  5 Sonnenburg, Amanda           Unattached              J3.05m   10-00.00
     2.75 2.90 3.05 3.20
        O   XO    O  XXX
  6 Stitch, Lauren               Unattached              J3.05m   10-00.00
     2.75 2.90 3.05 3.20
       XO   XO    O  XXX
  7 Stevens, Brittany            Unattached              J3.05m   10-00.00
     2.75 2.90 3.05 3.20
      XXO   XO    O  XXX
  8 Gauert, Emma                 Unattached               2.45m    8-00.50
     2.30 2.45 2.60
        O   XO  XXX
  9 Wright, Katie                Unattached               2.15m    7-00.50
     2.15 2.30
        O  XXX
 -- Davis, Anna                  Unattached                  NH
     2.75
      XXX

#BritsPubVault Photo of the Day Windsor Molnar whipping like Renaud! http://t.co/DmEMo1GMre @BritsPubVault pic.twitter.com/lUgfpfovq5

— Mike McCarthy (@McCarthysan) September 5, 2015

 Men Pole Vault Group C
========================================================================
    Name                    Year Team                    Finals
========================================================================
  1 Molnar, Windsor              Unattached               4.55m   14-11.00
     4.10 4.25 4.40 4.55 4.70
        O    O    O    O  XXX
  2 Johnson, Zach                Unattached               4.40m   14-05.25
     4.10 4.25 4.40 4.55
        O    O   XO  XXX
  3 Walsh-Brenizer, AJ           Unattached               4.25m   13-11.25
     3.95 4.10 4.25 4.40
       XO    O  XXO  XXX
  4 Beutz, Jason                 Unattached               4.10m   13-05.25
     3.80 3.95 4.10 4.25 4.40
        O    O    O    P  XXX
  5 Roth, Michael                Unattached              J4.10m   13-05.25
     3.80 3.95 4.10 4.25
       XO    O   XO  XXX
  6 Steffen, Jamie               Unattached              J4.10m   13-05.25
     3.65 3.80 3.95 4.10 4.25
        O    O  XXO  XXO  XXX
  7 Westaby, Blade               Unattached               3.95m   12-11.50
     3.80 3.95 4.10
        O   XO  XXX
  8 Keil, Evan                   Unattached               3.80m   12-05.50
     3.80 3.95
        O  XXX
 9 Hammerschmidt, Jon           Unattached               3.65m   11-11.75
     3.65 3.80
        O  XXX
 10 Schabelski, David            Unattached              J3.65m   11-11.75
     3.65 3.80
       XO  XXX
 -- Jones, Patrick               Unattached                  NH
     3.65
      XXX

 Women Pole Vault Group B
========================================================================
    Name                    Year Team                    Finals
========================================================================
  1 Jacobs, Andrianna            Unattached               3.95m   12-11.50
     3.50 3.65 3.80 3.95 4.10
        O    O    O    O  XXX
  2 Jandrich, Esther             Unattached               3.50m   11-05.75
     3.35 3.50 3.65
        O  XXO  XXX
  3 Leggas, Kristina             Unattached              J3.50m   11-05.75
     3.35 3.50 3.65
       XO  XXO  XXX
  4 Funk, Allie                  Unattached               3.35m   10-11.75
     3.35 3.50
        O  XXX
  4 Opichka, Shaelyn             Unattached               3.35m   10-11.75
     3.20 3.35 3.50
        O    O  XXX
  6 Greene, Sarah                Unattached              J3.35m   10-11.75
     3.20 3.35 3.50
        O  XXO  XXX
 -- Keifer, Alexis               Unattached                  NH
     3.35
      XXX

The men's C Comp Podium. Congrats guys! “@vspinesport: .@BritsPubVault pic.twitter.com/O1vXxHVZGV”

— Brit's Pub Vault (@BritsPubVault) September 5, 2015

 Men Pole Vault Group B
========================================================================
    Name                    Year Team                    Finals
========================================================================
  1 Szamlewski, Corey            Unattached               4.87m   15-11.75
     4.57 4.72 4.87 5.02
       XO    O    O  XXX
  1 Valli, Mitchell              Unattached               4.87m   15-11.75
     4.72 4.87 5.02
      XXO   XO  XXX
  3 Kilster, Bryan               Unattached               4.72m   15-05.75
     4.42 4.57 4.72 4.87
       XO    O  XXO  XXX
  4 Gagnon, Beauregard           Unattached               4.27m   14-00.00
     4.12 4.27 4.42
        O  XXO  XXX
  -- Bredahl, Joe                 Unattached                  NH
     4.57
      XXX
 -- Nolden, Parker               Unattached                  NH
     4.12
      XXX
 -- Huntley, Derek               Unattached                  NH
     4.27
      XXX
 -- Fleigle, Matthew             Unattached                  NH
     4.12
      XXX

  Men Pole Vault Elite
========================================================================
    Name                    Year Team                    Finals
========================================================================
  1 Houston, Scott               Unattached               5.63m   18-05.50
     5.33 5.48 5.63 5.70
        O    O   XO  XXX
  2 Coover, Jeff                 Unattached               5.48m   17-11.75
     5.18 5.33 5.48 5.63
        O    O    O  XXX
  3 Whitt, Jack                  Unattached              J5.48m   17-11.75
     5.18 5.33 5.48 5.63
       XO  XXO    O  XXX
  4 Scott, Jordan                Unattached               5.33m   17-05.75
     5.03 5.18 5.33 5.48
      XXO    O    O  XXX
  4 Heuser, Chip                 Unattached               5.33m   17-05.75
     5.03 5.18 5.33 5.48
      XXO    O    O  XXX
  6 Gooris, Daniel               Unattached              J5.33m   17-05.75
     5.03 5.18 5.33 5.48
        O    O   XO  XXX
  7 Young, Sean                  Unattached               5.18m   17-00.00
     5.03 5.18 5.33
        O   XO  XXX
  8 Neidermeier, Darren          Unattached               5.03m   16-06.00
     5.03 5.18
       XO  XXX
 -- Siermeier, Zack              Unattached                  NH
     5.03
      XXX

 Women Pole Vault Elite
========================================================================
    Name                    Year Team                    Finals
========================================================================
  1 Gergle, Melissa              Unattached               4.15m   13-07.25
     4.15 4.30
      XXO  XXX
  2 Murgic, Katie                Unattached               3.85m   12-07.50
     3.85 4.00
        O  XXX
 -- Schmidt, Vera                Unattached                  NH
     4.15
      XXX
 -- Sonnenberg, Sam              Unattached                  NH
     4.00
      XXX
 -- Brost, Leslie                Unattached                  NH
     4.15
      XXX

Brits Pub Vault

It's Saturday morning....why aren't you at @BritsPubVault?? Happening all day....so come on down! #BritsPubVault pic.twitter.com/JggtOOXeow

— Mike Henke (@TfVaultOfficial) September 5, 2015

#BritsPubVault Photo of the Day Steve White, Skyscraper http://t.co/DmEMo1GMre http://t.co/Y9kZrAD7IX #polevault pic.twitter.com/ZFjuvwB7IO

— Mike McCarthy (@McCarthysan) September 5, 2015

A Bird's Eye View: Video, Eagle Eye, and Jumbotrons

A bird's eye view of the venue for the Brit' Pub Vault.  The photographer,
Wade Baird, thought it might be interesting to take an "aerial panorama"
of the event from above.  He went to the Doubletree Suites Hotel that is
next to Brit's and asked if he could take a photo through a window from the
hotel.  Those rooms were all booked, he was told.  "How about the roof,"
Baird replied. The manager said OK, and this photo is the result.
Photo by Wade Baird

Today's New York Times has a story about the use of modern video technology in high school football HERE.  Advances in the technology of  video equipment and delivery through cloud computing have brought video analysis and game films, a tool that has been a useful  for professional and college sports, down to the high school level.

In track and field the same technology has become common primarily in the field events.  The throws and jumping events are filmed by coaches and/or parents with a tablet computer.  At this weekend's Roy Griak cross country meet there will be a jumbotron that plays streaming video of portions of each race.  

Different advances in road racing came in the form of automatic timing equiptment that, decades ago, replaced the stop watch.  Today the races have chip timing that not only gives finish times, but splits and average pace per mile for all results.  St. Thomas track coach Steve Mathre and partner Dave Bodie started Eagle Eye LLC as a timing company, but as technology advanced in video, Eagle Eye has become a one stop shop for a variety of services.

The stated goal of Eagle Eye is "making video technology and specialized athletic equipment affordable for all schools, programs, teams, and club sports."  In conversations with NCAA and USATF official Bob Podkaminer, Eagle Eye found another market.  A video assist in the increasingly contentious area of protests in track and field.  The most public example of that being the protest at last year's USATF indoor championships women's 3K.  Podkaminer, who is the NCAA secretary-rules editor had noticed a trend in field events of what he called "strategic protests," i.e. protests that were not filed because of an obvious foul, but rather for "strategic" reasons.  

The long jump in particular seemed to be the target of many of these protests with the possible strategy to induce the targeted jumper to worry about fouling.  Plant the seeds of doubt.  The long jump also has different rules(the NCAA rules are different than USATF's) for determining whether or not a jump is a foul, which makes it doubly ripe for exploitation, said Mathre.  The difference between a clean jump and a foul can often be razor thin on athletes travelling at a high rate of speed.

So why not employ video technology to allow meet officials to quickly and easily determine if a jump was legal?  In addition to supplying video of all the events at the meet, Eagle Eye provides video "surveillance" of whatever event or events need such scrutiny.  Tennis, for example, uses Hawk-Eye, a video imaging service that follows the flight of a tennis ball and marks the spot where it lands.

Tennis players get a set amount number of unsuccesful "challenges" to calls on whether or not a ball was in or out.  When a challenge is made the replay of the flight of the ball and where it landed is played on video on the scoreboard in the stadium.  In addition to providing an objective view of where the ball landed, the instant video invariably attracts and audience response within the stadium as the anticipation of the ball in flight is greeted by an audible response from the crowd when it lands. Track's protests video is not broadcast to the stadium audience, but sometimes will get coverage within a scheduled broadcast where the only response is from viewers at home.

As the Times article pointed out, the advances in technology have created opportunities for sports on several fronts. Events, such as the Brit's Pub Vault, have shown how creative ideas on where to do an event have potential.  Using video at such an event could potentially add to the draw of the event even more.  A lot of the vaulters already use video for performance reasons, technique analysis.  Imagine a "jumbotron"/screen on a wall that features video of each jump, interviews with the vaulters. 

Some of the people at Brit's that night were not track fans.  Didn't even know that there was such a thing as professional pole vaulters.  But the atmosphere, location, and unique event caught their attention.  Ideatap studios made a promotional video about the event that could easily lead off the evening's festivities, and/or be played at track events and/or on social media leading up to the event next year.  Eagle Eye might even be able to develop a new market of providing services they could offer to the event.  

Just as the photographer Wade Baird got creative in order to get the "bird's eye view" of the Brit's rooftop,  others can use the existing technology to enhance an event.  Technology has been an integral part of helping the running boom in road racing, triathlons, and like events.  It also can contriubute more to the "legacy events" on the track.  The seeds merely need to be planted and nurtured to get them to grow. 

Brit's Pub Vault Captured on Video

IdeaTap Studios short film(3:27) on the Brit's Pub Vault is HERE.

Brit's Pub Vault: Becky Miller's Photo Gallery

What were you doing last Saturday night?  On top of Brit's Pub a  bunch of people got together for

a celebration of pole vaulting.  Here are a few more photos from that night in case you missed it.

TCTC's Mike Reneau(in the middle with the blue hat and shirt, left hand on his hip)
 surveys the action. Photo by Becky Miller

It involved speed and precision.
Photo by Becky Miller

Gymnastics.
Photo by Becky Miller

Coaching.
Photo by Becky Miller

Concentration.
Photo by Becky Miller

Technique.
Photo by Becky Miller

A "band of brothers" getting together to test their
skills. Photo by Becky Miller

And a crowd to watch them.
Photo by Becky Miller

They were young.
Photo by Becky Miller

And old.
Photo by Becky Miller

During warm ups as in practice, a rope not a cross bar is set
up to get a feel for how high you can go.
Photo by Becky Miller

Here the pros show you there are many ways to clear a height.
There's the "glider" Photo by Becky Miller

Aerial splits. Photo by Becky Miller

The jackknife. Photo by
Becky Miller

The one hander. Photo by Becky Miller

Grip with white power talcum.
Photo by Becky Miller

Or black "pine tar."
Photo by Becky Miller

And for added protection, the helmet--"Let's Be Careful
Out There." Photo by Becky Miller