Zips Set to Host Seventh-Annual Akron Pole Vault Convention

Follow Zips Track & Field on Twitter (@ZipsTFCC) and Facebook

AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron track and field program will host the Seventh-Annual Pole Vault Convention at Stile Athletics Field House on January 11, 2020. The event is designed to be an all-inclusive pole vault experience for athletes, coaches and parents and will feature classroom sessions, learn-by-doing clinics, and competitions. Instructors will include world-class coaches and vaulters, in addition to top collegiate and club coaches from the region.

The open atmosphere of the convention will allow participants to choose to attend sessions that are most intriguing to their personal interests. The clinicians will offer their specialized perspective about how to get athletes to follow the ideal pole-vaulting model in addition to seminars about proper training and other ways to take performances to greater heights.

The Pole Vault Convention is the vision of Zips' head coach Dennis Mitchell, who had a pair of former standout student-athletes in Shawn Barber and Annika Roloff compete in the Summer Olympics in August 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Barber, the 2015 IAAF World Champion, captured three NCAA titles as a Zip, while Roloff (outdoor) captured individual NCAA national championships in 2014.

Seven-time Akron All-America honoree Matt Ludwig captured the 2017 NCAA title at the Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ore, while senior Lucy Bryan (Bristol, England) is a five-time All-America recipient placing fifth at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Austin, Texas.

Mitchell also coached All-American Alex McCune, the American and collegiate record holder in the heptathlon pole vault. In all, he has coached more than 100 All-American honors during his career, including All-Americans in the Pole Vault at the University of Texas, University of North Carolina and University of Akron.

During his 25 years at Akron, Mitchell has won 30 Mid-American Conference Team Championships and been named the MAC Coach of the year 30 times. Furthermore, Coach Mitchell's athletes have established the MAC All-Time Records in Indoor & Outdoor Men's & Women's Pole Vault.

Feedback from 2018 Pole Vault Convention Attendees:
"My vaulters and I felt this was an experience of a lifetime.

We had a blast, can't wait till next year!"

"Really enjoyed & appreciated everything! Parent sessions were nice. Appreciated all the Olympic vaulters...very inspiring to my daughter!"

"I enjoyed the guest speakers and the breakdown of jumps on video."

Read the recap of the 2018 Pole Vault Convention.

Registration Information (Opens Now)
There are three parts to the registration process for athletes and competing coaches/parents:

**You must complete steps 1, 2, and 3 below to complete your registration for the Pole Vault Convention. You will pay during step 1 through the "Click Here" link. Direct athletics entries are solely for seeding purposes for the pole vault competitions that will take place over the weekend.

1) Register (click here) to pay with a credit card.

2) To be seeded in the pole vault competition you must enter the Pole Vault Convention competition on DirectAthletics (Note: You must register on DirectAthletics to be placed in a competition at The Pole Vault Convention)

Direct Athletics Registration: Open (High School, Middle School, Open, College, etc.)

Direct Athletics Registration: Invitational (Prior Invite/Permission must be granted)

3) Print out the waiver (PDF) and bring it to Convention Check-In

Cost
Pre-registration will close on January 10, at 12 p.m. After this time, individuals must pay the "On Site" fee at the Stile Athletics Field House the day of the event. We will accept cash, check, and credit card.

Registration Date	Before Jan. 1	Jan. 2-10	On Site
Athlete	$40	$50	$60
Coach	$20	$20	$30
Parent/Fans*	$10	$10	$10

* (per person)

All registration fees are non-refundable | Competition Admission $10
Travel Guide (PDF)

Schedule of Events (as of December 2)
Saturday, Jan. 11th, 2020
8:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.: Registration
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.: Open Competition
4:30 - 6 p.m.: Pole Vault Clinic/Demonstrations
7 p.m.: Elite Competition
9 p.m.: Autographs/Q&A

College athletes/coaches: Please contact Coach Dennis Mitchell (dwmitch@uakron.edu) for more information on the University/College entry process.

Hotels
Courtyard Marriott
41 Furnace Street
Akron, OH 44308
330-252-9228

Sheraton Suites Akron – Cuyahoga Falls
1989 Front Street
Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221
330-929-3000

Hilton Garden Inn Akron
1307 E. Market Street
Akron, OH, 44305
330-733-2900

Shipping Information
If you are shipping poles, please send Justin Ortego (akrontfxcops@uakron.edu) the date the poles were shipped, date they are expected to arrive, tracking number, and shipping company.

Poles can be shipped to:
Stile Athletics Field House
Attn: Allan Hoon
289 South Union Street
Akron, OH 44325-6302

Vendors
Are you interested in promoting your business at the Pole Vault Convention? Download the Vendor Agreement Form (click here (PDF)) and return it, via email, to Justin Ortego at akrontfxcops@uakron.edu.

Additional Information
Please contact Justin Ortego at akrontfxcops@uakron.edu with questions about the Pole Vault Convention.

The University of Akron Athletics

Zips Set to Host Seventh-Annual Akron Pole Vault Convention

Players Mentioned

Lucy Bryan

Matt Ludwig

Related Videos