Former Olympian To Coach at MICDS

Jeff Hartwig calls the pole vault "the circus act of track and field".

Hartwig, who was named the pole vault coach at MICDS, certainly knows what he is speaking about the event.

Hartwig, a 1985 Francis Howell graduate, is one of the most distinguished pole vaulters in United States history.

He is a four-time United States National Outdoor champions and two-time National Indoor champion and has held both the indoor and outdoor records in the US.

Hartwig competed in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

"I was probably a bit of a darkhorse to compete in Atlanta," Hartwig said. "That was a huge thrill to compete for the US on the home soil."

Hartwig was the national ourdoor champion in 1998, 1999, 2002 and 2003 but failed to make either the 2000 or 2004 Olympics.

"I just didn't get it done in 2000 and 2004 was one of the strongest years for pole vaulting in this country," Hartwig said. "We got gold and silver in Athens."

The 2008 Olympics seemed way out of reach for Hartwig, who was 40-years-0ld at the time.

"The world record for that age was 17 feet and had been done by only three people in the world," Hartwig said. "And the minimum for competing in the Olympics was 18-2."

But Hartwig defied the odds and made the Olympics at 40 by finishing second in the Olympic Trials.

"I know I was the oldest track and field competitor in the United States and I am pretty sure I was the oldest in the entire Olympics that year," said Hartwig.

Hartwig competed professionally in Europe right after the 2008 Olympics to conclude his stellar career.

"The pole vault is hanging up in the garage and it is going to stay there," said Hartwig.

Hartwig has been teaching his passion for 20 years, beginning at a pole vaulting training center in Jonesboro, Ark. with his coach Earl Bell.

He was an assistant at Francis Howell North High School last year and enjoyed watching his pupil and nephew, Kyle Morris, win the state Class 4 championship.

He begins a new adventure at MICDS this spring.

"I have known (MICDS varsity coach) Jim Lohr for a while and he asked me about coaching when he knew I was back in the area," Hartwig said. "I told him that I wanted to help by nephew last year but would be interested in talking after that."

Hartwig feels the fit at MICDS is a perfect one.

"So much of the success of pole vaulting is the facilities," Hartwig said. "And the facilities here, including the only area indoor track, is head and shoulders abover the rest in the St. Louis area. And I am also aware of the commitment here and the support and their history of athletic excellence.

"One thing I am most looking forward to is the chance to come in and develop a program from scratch."

Hartwig should have little difficulty in being a pole vault salesman.

"The first time I saw someone pole vaulting I wanted to try it and I think that will be the case for a lot of kids," Hartwig said. "It is the ultimate chess game of any sport. It is an all encompassing physical activity which combines speed, strength and agility. But it is so much of a mental sport. There are just multiple levels of challenge, both physically and mentally."