Track Awards Banquet 2011





















Herb Neff Award: Vol Walk-On - Chase Brannon
 • Scored for Tennessee in the pole vault at both the SEC Indoor and Outdoor meets.
• Posted personal-best clearances in seven of 12 meets as a rookie.
• Qualified for the NCAA East Preliminary Round meet as a freshman.

Vol Outdoor Most Improved Athlete - Chase Brannon
• Cleared or matched his outdoor pole vault personal best five times during the 2011 season, raising it to 16-6 ¾.
• Sailed over that height at the SEC Championships to notch a fifth-place finish.
• As the league's highest rookie finisher in that event, he was selected to the SEC All-Freshman Team.

Vol Indoor Most Improved Athlete - Joe Berry
 • After a tough 2010 season and missing the first month of the season while recovering from injury, he bounced back strong in 2011.
• He recorded an indoor personal best clearance of 17-8 ½ to finish second in the pole vault at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational, his first meet of the season, and moved to No. 8 on the school's all-time performers list.
• He went on to claim the SEC title number four of the five he now owns in the vault, sailing over 17-7 ½.

Vol Outdoor Most Valuable Field Athlete - Joe Berry
• Produced a runner-up finish in the pole vault to generate points for Tennessee in Los Angeles in the dual meet vs. UCLA.
• Once again qualified for the NCAA East Preliminary Round meet.
• Captured the fifth SEC pole vault title of his career, winning the outdoor crown with a clearance of 17-8 1/2 on a windy day in Athens, Ga.


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5-21-11

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2011 SEC Outdoor Championships

Athens, GA
The vaulters led the big orange at the SEC Outdoor Championships, tallying 14 points behind Joe Berry and Chase Brannon. Joe tied his season best and completed the indoor/outdoor sweep, winning his 5th conference crown and displaying true Tennesse grit. Chase Brannon continued to build on his reputation for stepping up in the big meets, matching his lifetime best yet again at 5.05m, scoring in 5th. We left some big points off the board, as Tyler Porter and Robert Rasnick had a tough day. Rasnick flipped the switch when the meet started, and just blew his poles away, even after going up a pole. Tyler competed aggressively but just never found his timing on the pole.

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5-11-11

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5-8-11

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5-8-11

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5-4-11

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5-1-11

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4-24-11

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Practice Highlights 4-20-11

Had to go inside due to an angry thunder storm right on top of the pole vault runway.
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Sea Ray Relays



“It takes a little courage, and a little self -- control. And some grim determination, If you want to reach the goal. It takes a deal of striving, and a firm and stern-set chin. No matter what the battle, If you really want to win. There's no easy path to glory, There's no road to fame. Life, however we may view it, Is no simple parlor game; But it's prizes call for fighting, For endurance and for grit; For a rugged disposition and don't know when to quit.”
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UCLA -

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4-13-11

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PV Highlights: 4-10-11

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4-6-11

Joe B: Very solid practice. Run looked stronger out of the back. We must spend time and effort and be committed to improving the lower body mechanics regarding dorsiflexion. Keep trying to incorporate this into all our drills and CW. I think if we can keep the hips up and post better off the final step, this well help you to work the left arm sooner and speed up the hip swing.

Chase: The 9 lefts is getting dialed in. We have to keep it simple. Don't overgrip until we get the timing down. The more you can "complete" the take-off and create elasticity through the shoulders with really high hands and extended arms, the better your balance will be (hips vs. shoulders) moving the pole and staying behind it. This should give you the speed, whip, and position to keep the swing alive and avoid the head toss/flag out that occurs when the pole take-off without you.

Brad H: Same old song and dance. You must be rhythmic and strict during your last three. Cannot make more speed a bad thing. Just looks like the arms are asleep.Hard to tell if this is due to the overstriding or vice/versa. I would like to go back core/breath cue with a big focus continuous/active hands.

Tyer P: Run got better. Just need lots of reps with the pole in you hand. When you drive out of the back with power and control, the tempo of your run allows you to come off the ground nicely. This is what it will take for you to really avoid the left arm block and be able to accelerate through the middle and cover the hands. Just needs to get more consistent and "snap" that plant up early and in front vs. behind the head which stops the momentum.

Maira: Keep working. Things are getting better. The pole plant remains an significant issue. Notice how you drop the left hand down and in front and tilt the body back but not shoulder turn. The left hand starts in a weak position and does not "assist" the acceleration of the pole upward and into the proper position. This is too slow and has an effect on your penultimate mechanics. Keep drilling the left hand "cocked" position and elbow underneath. It must be smooth, quick, and relaxed though. The better this gets, the more likely you will be able to have quicker feet and a proper penultimate and get the hands up earlier to open the shoulders.

Rasnick: Maybe we go back to 4 lefts/7 lefts like 2010. Either way, lots of slide box, walking drills, partner plant drills, etc. Simple keys and mental poise.





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3-27-11

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3-23-11 PV Practice

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PV Practice Highlights 3-20-11

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PV Practice Highlights 3-12-11

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3-8-11

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PV Practice Highlights 3-5-11



Chase: Run/take-off is improving greatly. Need to keep working on "finishing" the take-off chest/knee drive up and in to create a full stretch to swing from. When you do a hit the correct right take-off, you need to be swinging harder and faster to the top of the pole to get the hips around.

Brad: 9 lefts is bring a lot of speed and engery..now we have to harness it. Got to control posture and drop mechanics at higher speeds now. Get back to Stolle model....left position, move the right. Need to avoid getting back into the mode of diving in low/late and trying to recover mid-jump.

Rasnick: Good number of reps here. Keep being aggressive and trying to hit the chest. Left arm has to be right down the line, not across the body. I think to do this you have to get the tip down sooner, chest forward, and being more active with the hands. All while staying tall.

Maira: I like the ones where you started to open the shoulder a bit. Still sitting and reaching in the run. Need to get the hips tall and cycle the legs down with authority. Left hand and shoulder turn remain rigid and late. Work on this a lot.
As your penultimate, shoulder turn, pole drop, and timing improve, you will see significant improvements in your positions just after take-off.

Joe: Good consistency and great witht he 12'6/13' foot take-offs. I feel that you really need to be pushing aggressively and keeping your hips tall/tucked if you are going to handle the "out step" and not feel like you are sinking.
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PV Practice 3-2-11

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2011 SEC Indoor Championships

Fayetteville, AR

1st: Joe Berry, Sr.: 5.37m
7th: Robert Rasnick, Jr.: 5.17m SB
8th: Chase Brannon, Fr.: 5.02m PR
nh: Tyler Porter, Fr.




After a tough 2010 campaign, the Tennessee vaulters once again made their presence known in the SEC, with three athletes chipping in points for the Vols. Joe Berry won his 4th SEC title (2 indoor, 2 outdoor) after battling back from an injury-plagued 2010. Joe competed in classic Tennessee style, having no misses until the final bar. Robert Rasnick had some gutsy third attempt clearances to put himself in scoring position while easily clearing a season best, just under 17'. Chase Brannon put up a big clearance at a personal best, as he continues to improve by leaps and bounds. Freshmen Tyler Porter struggled in his first SEC meet, but gained some valuable experience that should help to light a fire for his future.

http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2011/feb/27/berry-restarts-sec-indoors-pole-vault-streak/
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Practice Highlights 2-23-11

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PV PRACTICE 2-20-11



Excuse the typos ;)
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PV Practice 2-16-11

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Practice Highlights 2-9-11

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NEW BALANCE COLLEGIATE INVITATIONAL




Championship Section
2nd - Joe Berry - 5.40m Indoor PR
11th -Robert Rasnick - 5.00m SB

College Section
Tyler Porter - 4.90m
Chase Brannon - NH









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2-2-11 Practice Highlights

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1-29-11

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PV Practice highlights 1-26-11



Friday Workout:

1. CW
2. Partner Pick Off Drills: 10 x each man. Focus on jumping up with the pole, full extension and square through shoulders, no blocking, be aggressive.
3. Walking/jogging drop & plant series ~ 15 minutes
4. Leg Loader: 7 times pole run simulation with pole drop: hips high, good core
5. Hurdle Mobility
6. Light medicine ball: 3 steps x 10, overheads x 10
7. Flexibility/injury tx

Saturday: light swim, flexibility, ice baths
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HOKIE INVITATIONAL

Blacksburg, VA

5th - Brad Holtz - 5.07m
8th - Tyler Porter - 4.92m Indoor PR
9th - Joe Berry - 4.92m
10th - Chase Brannon - 4.92m PR
NH - Robert Rasnick

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1-19-11 Practice Highlights

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Kentucky Invitational 1-15-11

The guys got the season underway with our traditional first meet at Kentucky as two fresman donned the orange for the first time. Redshirt fresman Chase Brannon saw his personal best improve twice, as he negotiated 4.60m and 4.75m on his first attempts. Joe Berry (unattached)continued his comeback and Robert Rasnick showed flashes of his potential. Tyler Porter got his first meet out of the way and continues to dial in his longer run. Brad Holtz competed from a short run and was the highest finisher of the group. We will travel to an always competitive Virginia Tech meet next week, with expectations of bigger jumps and more consistency.



Results:
2. Brad Holtz - - 5.05m (unattached)
5. Robert Rasnick - 4.90m
8. Chase Brannon - 4.75 PR
8. Joe Berry - 4.75m (unattached)
10. Tyler Porter - 4.60m
Kevin Carney - NH
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1-12-11

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1-9-11

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1-5-11, + Rasnick comparisons





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1-2-10

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