DISTANCE and POLE VAULTING - A good combo?

You need so much training to get good technique to pole vault, and you also need to be fast on the runway. For distance you need mileage.

You could do decently in both the 800 and PV, but not “well”. An elite distance runner scores more points than a decent “combo” athlete anyway.

What they said - it depends on how serious/competitive your team is, but training for pole vault requires developing a lot of speed and power that doesn't typically work with 3200 training. You also have to consider meet schedules - pole vault takes a long time, and you have to "check out" of the jumps competition to race, and then return and check back in. it can be a lot to manage at a meet.

I do know people who have successfully trained for pole vault and 800 simultaneously, although they have specialized in one in college.

Is 800/1600/PV a reasonable combo? I’d be willing to drop the 32, though I’m not sure how my coach would take it. Also, correct me if I’m wrong, but could I just put in extra time in effort so I can both run the mileage and practice the PV technique?

You need the technique AND very good speed. Distance running will sap your 100m speed

Depending on how much speed you have and if you think you might want to try the decathlon.

Sure you can be a good distance runner and decent pole vaulter... The pole vaulting competition is pretty shallow, you can be good just by having competent technique. At least at the HS level.

Training can be coordinated with some creativity, I’m sure. However, if serious about PV, it will be tough to make PV / distance doubles in the same meet work depending on the schedule if you have to check out to run a distance race. I cannot imagine going back to jump would be super fun after checking out to race an 800 or 1600.

I think seriously doing XC and PV would be easier given the separate seasons, but if you love both track distance and the vault, you can give it try. As others have said, 800 and PV is not an unprecedented combo at the HS level.

I know a high school girl who is pretty good at both xc and pole vault. But she doesn't run distance during winter and spring, only pole vault.

A number of years ago there was a girl in New Jersey who was the best in the state in both the javelin and the 1600 at the same time. So while that is very unusual at least it shows that it's possible to do both simultaneously.

No, simply based on timing of most meets. It would put PV after the 1600. Knew a guy that did PV and the 800, was pretty good at both. Usually PV was done by the time the 800 came around.

I have seen it done. Our top 3,200 guy was also our top pole vaulter one season. He didn't get to state in either one, but he placed in both events every meet.

When Hammond High School had three sub 9 miles minute two milers the third guy ,TimKeough??, was a pole vaulter.

In high school I used to drag the pits out for PV and HJ before practice. The coach let me practice a few jumps in PV before our distance workout started. I was 10:00 for 3200 and 4:29 for 1600. We had a few dual meets where the other school was weak in the PV and he let me jump as our 3rd vaulter. My best double was 10'0" for 3rd in the PV and 10:00 for 2nd in the 3200 in the same meet.

We had a State Champion XC female who also ran 2:11 and vaulted 11'6" as state champion in both of those events. It's certainly rare, but if you've got it, flaunt it!

Yes you can do both. People are still in the old thinking that to do 800/1600 you somehow have to be slow and not be fast? The two are not mutually exclusive. Im assuming you want to do it, be decent at it, have fun at HS level? Not world class? You don't need world class "speed and power". Plenty of 800/1600/3200 people are fast. Sounds like you have some coordination and hops from the other jumps. I just dont think there is a shread of evidence that running 3200M "makes" you slow? That's so old thinking. Just don't expect to do all 4 in one meet. I see 100+ PV kids lined up at junior olympics and they are not crazy fast at all. Its all about expectations. I wish I did PV in HS, thats the time to try!!

Im sorry can you point to evidence that distance running makes you slower? Does it deplete fast twithc fibers, change your genetics? No way. And BTW, 1600/3200 is not "distance running". MD runners do plenty of speed work.

Have fun. Vault and throw if you want.

You are fortunate to be in a state in which javelin is a standard high school event. I have stated on here for years, javelin is why I joined high school T&F team. There was no javelin in my state. All explosive movement events coincide with sprinting. Choose. Either pole vault or 400 to 3200. You need fresh legs to pole vault. Some athletes have gotten hurt and some have lost their life pole vaulting. If you believe you are a better pole vaulter than 400 to 3200 athlete then pole vault.

You're in high school. If you want to try PV it will never again be as easy and accessible as it is now. So if you want to do it then go for it!

If you're just naturally talented then maybe you can be successful at both. Eventually you'll find that in order to maximize your ability in one you'll have to give up the other. But you're not at that point yet so just do it and have fun.

Erin Donohue did some javelin in college, and finished 5th in ACC one year.