EVOLUTION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERFORMANCE AND APPROACH RUN VELOCITY IN THE WOMEN'S POLE VAULT

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the relationship between approach run velocity and crossbar height for women pole vaulters from 1995 to 1997 and from 1997 to 2003. Videorecords of vaults were used to compute the average interval velocities from 9 to 4 m from the back of the vault box. The average 1997-2003 vault was 0.33 m/s or 4.5% faster and 51 cm or 14.1 % higher. Height was significantly correlated to approach run velocity. Linear regression equations predicting height from velocity were computed for each dataset. For a velocity of 8.25 m/s, the regression equations predicted a height 35 cm higher for the 1997-2003 vaults. Improvements in women's vaulting technique have been largely responsible for the increase in vault heights by women between 1995-1997 and 1997-2003.