MARCH 13, 2012
I am happy to report that Brad Walker ended a phenomenal indoor season with a bronze medal at the 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships. It’s hard to believe that this was Brad’s 5th World Championship medal. It is staggering to believe how often Brad has been able to rise to the occasion in major championships. Five World Championships competed in and five medals to show for the effort. Brad not only has the American Record, but is also establishing himself as the most dominant pole-vaulter in American history. A gold medal this summer in London would solidify his place in track history for years to come.
Winning a medal in any International competition especially in a volatile event like the pole vault is never a given, even for the world’s best athletes. The World Indoor Championships occur every two years and I was fortunate enough to have Tim Mack and Chelsea Johnson represent the USA in the 2010 World Indoor Championships in Doha, Qatar. Both athletes entered the meet in great form, but failed to make it out of the qualifying round. It is always a great accomplishment to represent the US in any international meet, but coming home with a medal is the ultimate goal. Fortunately for Tim he already had an Olympic Gold Medal from Athens in 04’ and Chelsea was coming off a silver medal at the 2009 World Outdoor Championships in Berlin, Germany. This year’s competition was held in Istanbul, Turkey and as you know from my last blog Brad went into Istanbul riding high from his US Championship victory in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I can tell you that the trip home is much easier when an athlete ends the meet standing on the award podium. It was a long flight home last time around from the Middle East.
This celebration will however be short lived, as the Olympic games are just a few months away. We will schedule a week of rest and recovery before we dive into training for the outdoor season. We will have a couple of weeks training before we have our first meet of the outdoor season at the Drake Mall Vault in Des Moines, Iowa. This competition will be a fun meet because they will set up a runway and pit in the local mall and jump for the visiting patrons. This is a low-key event great for promoting the pole vault and the Drake Relays while working towards our Olympic Trials in June. I will surely keep you all up to date on Brad’s results as we proceed into the competitive season.
I want to thank Brad first for believing in me enough to be apart of his Olympic quest. I couldn’t wish for a better way to make a living. There are also many people who contribute behind the scenes that support our effort. I don’t want to leave anyone out but here is a short list of the people who support our mission on a daily basis.
OTC Chula Vista Support Staff
Tracy Lamb – OTC Chula Vista Director
Dr. Craig Poole - USATF Resident Program Director
Dr. Andrea Braakuis – USOC Sport Nutrition
Richard Quincy and staff – USOC Sports Medicine
James Myers, CSCS – USOC Strength and Conditioning
“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”
-Henry Ford