DRAKE RELAYS

Drake University - College Division

1. Joe Berry, 5.05m (16' 6")

Brad Holtz NH

Joe and Brad competed in the college division of the Drake Relays which included a quality field. Joe Berry emerged victorious once again, winning his third meet of the last four. He has been the picture of consistency in his training and competitive nature, regardless of the conditions. Of the six outdoor meets this year, rain has been a factor four times. Conditions at Drake were in the low 40's, with light rain and gusty 30 mph winds that apparently swirled all day. Unfortunately, Brad and half the field did not clear a bar. We will train for the Smoky Mountain meet in Knoxville and hope to have a healthy Michael Hogue back for competition. We are looking for Hogue, Holtz, Berry and Ayers to all contribute points in the pole vault at the SEC's which loom in a few weeks.

VANDERBILT INVITATIONAL

NASHVILLE, TN

1. Joe Berry: 5.21m (17' 1"), PR, Meet Record, Facility Record
3. Brad Holtz: 4.95m (16' 2.5")
9. Michael Seaman: 4.60m (15' 1").

We made the trip to Vandy on Friday, taking 3 vaulters. Conditions were pretty good but rain clouds threatened in the distance. Joe Berry took advantage of the day and vaulted to a new PR of 17'1. En route, he broke the meet record which was set by Michael Hogue last year. Berry then had two good attempts at 5.30, coming up a little short on depth as the rain began to fall. Bradley Holtz had some nice jumps at the earlier bars and is showing more consistency as the outdoor season progresses. The guys will travel to the Drake Relays next week to get a taste of the NCAA host facility.

SEA RAY RELAYS

Invitational Section...........

6. Joe Berry: 5.05, 16' 6"
6. Bradley Holtz: 5.05, 16' 6"
Michael Hogue: DNS

Joe and Brad had nice meets, clearing 16' 6" on their first attempts with plenty to spare. They tied for 4th among collegians. The winds were howling at Tom Black track today giving the vaulters a very nice tailwind. Beautiful conditions allowed for some fine vaulting throughout the field. Both had a couple of good attempts at 17 feet but really needed bigger poles. That is a good sign. Although neither managed to clear new PR's, both made strides toward peaking at the SEC championships in 4 weeks. Hogue did not compete today but will prepare to get healthy and finish the season strong.

SEA RAY RELAYS - Men's Open Vault

Michael Seaman: 4.90m, 16' 0.5" (PR)

Mikey made good use of the time he had before the storms blew in as he vaulted consistently and efficiently. He opened at 15' 7", clearing big on his 2nd attempt. He then made a comfortable clearance at 16' on his first attempt. It makes for a new PR and his first 16' vault. Places were not calculated because the meet was postponed before the vault was complete.

SEA RAY RELAYS - Decathlon

Decathlon pole vault
1. Michael Ayers, Tenn. 15-7
6. Jangy Addy, Tenn. 14-3 1/4

Decathlon
1. Jangy Addy, Tenn. 7,595**
3. Michael Ayers, Tenn. 7,227*

Jangy and Michael did there first decathlons of the year and achieved national qualifiers. Jangy achieved his first outdoor 14 footer with a 14' 3" on his first try. He then took one attempt at 14' 7" and called it a day. Michael Ayers cleared 15' 7" to to win the decathlon vault en route to a decathlon PR.

picture from utsports.com

Berry Named SEC Freshman of the Week

Tennessee pole vaulter Joseph Berry has been named SEC Male Freshman of the Week by the SEC, the conference office announced Tuesday.
Berry won the pole vault and tied the facility record at the Tiger Track Classic in Auburn, Ala., last weekend. The Horsham, Pa., native cleared a regional-qualifying and season-best height of 16-6 3/4 to match Auburn’s Mark Johnson for the highest clearance ever at Hutsell-Rosen Track, which will host the SEC?Outdoor Championships in May. Berry’s clearance is currently tied for third in the SEC this season and is tied for the top freshman mark in the conference.
Berry and the rest of the third-ranked Vols compete in front of the home crowd this weekend at the 42nd Sea Ray Relays.

2008 Tiger Classic

Auburn University

1. Joseph Berry: 16' 6" (5.05m)

2. Bradley Holtz: 16' 0" (4.90m)

Michael Seaman: NH (unattached)

Joe and Brad managed a strong 1-2 finish despite the fact that weather once again put a damper on the effort of the vaulting Vols. The guys traveled to Auburn University for a preview of the SEC host site on Saturday. Stormy weather across the southeast forced the guys to deal with a long rain delay followed by competition into intermittent rain and headwinds. Freshman Joe Berry achieved a regional qualifier while winning his first collegiate meet. Michael Hogue remained in Knoxville in preparation for the Sea Ray relays next weekend. Hopefully Knoxville will provide some much needed sunny skies and smoking tail winds as the guys try to crank up to some 5.20+ vaulting !