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At the end of last spring season, my PV coach said that he wants to turn us (the 5 girl vaulters on my team) into hurdlers. Is anyone out there a vaulter-turned-hurdler or vice versa? Have you found that doing one helps with the other? I figure that the two correlate, what with the speed and drive-leg aspects, among other things

I'm an ok pole vaulter, but I probably run a 17+ second 110 hurdles. There aren't too many similarities between them. I don't see how it would hurt though. It would only really help with knowing your steps and speed. The jump is completely different. Now, if there was a pv/hurdle race, maybe like a 2k, that'd be different, and awesome. There could be like, pole trees every hundred meters then a runway, 100 meters, pole tree, runway, big hurdle with a box, small pit, and that for 2k. Oh and the heights get progressively higher. I would do that if they had it. Sorry I got off topic...

Brent Burns was an 18'8 1/4" vaulter and around 14 flat hurdler while at Cal.

I have always wondered why there are so many Pole Vault/ Hurdle coaches at colleges? I know that of course its cheaper to have a coach do two events rather than just one, but why the hurdle/vault combo? Does it have to do with the steps and how you count them? What makes the combination so compatible?

vault3rb0y wrote:I have always wondered why there are so many Pole Vault/ Hurdle coaches at colleges? I know that of course its cheaper to have a coach do two events rather than just one, but why the hurdle/vault combo? Does it have to do with the steps and how you count them? What makes the combination so compatible?

Both pole vault and hurdles require speed, coordination, and athleticism. There have been posts about this topic before and I mentioned there that many athletes who are good vaulters and hurdlers could make good decathaletes as vaulting and hurdling are two of the most technical events. For example, in high school, Mike Morrison was not only a 17+ jumper but a very good hurdler as well.

link to previous post http://www.polevaultpower.com/forum/vie ... hp?t=11592

hurdling is also great for developing run rhythem. i believe its a great thing for all pole vaulters to learn.

I agree with everything mentioned above. Huge correlation! In my opinion, one of the best advantages of running hurdles is that it greatly increases a vaulter's awareness of their step relation to the box. Some of the vaulters mentioned above probably rose to the top in the vault because of their hurdling ability.

Hmm.... well maybe i would consider hurdling this year if i wasn't 5'9!!

Yeah I'm 5'11''... How does that hurt you in hurdles?

hurdlers are usually tall, long legs=less of a jump over the hurdle and more of a step.

So vault3rboy is saying that 5'9'' is too short or what?

i guess so, but someone being like 6' would be have an advantage, he's not saying you cant run hurdles and be 5'9