Capital Squares atrium on most any Wednesday evening after work is normally a pretty quiet place. Last night, ten of the top pole vaulters in the world, along with a large appreciative crowd transformed the atrium into a highly charged sporting arena. The Drake Relays special invitational pole vault is always a great spectacle to watch. 

Preparation

The goal: clear a bar eighteen feet above the ground, using only your own power and speed. With only three attempts to clear a height, there's a lot of thought, visualization, occasionally some advice from the head referee, and much concentration.

Launch

With only 22 strides down the runway, the athletes explode from the start line

Hitting the gas

Midway down the runway and it's full throttle.

Up

The tip is in the box, and it's time to go airborne