Chris and Joey Uhle of Olentangy Liberty broke the all time Ohio Record of 16’4” set in 1986 by John Coyne of Buckeye High School with vaults of 16’-7” on April 23^rd at the Olentangy Liberty Freedom Relays. Joey followed up on May 6^th, at the Delaware County Elite 8 meet, with a new state record jump of 16’8.”  His vault is currently the 5^th best jump in the nation so far this year. 

 

(Joey Uhle Clears 16'0 at the Pickerington Regional - Photo By Mark Stonecipher)

 

The Ohio Central District II at Dublin Coffman High School May 18^th, saw more outstanding vaulting.  15 vaulters started the competition.  4 vaulters cleared 15’.  Dominic Koah, of Teays Valley, Michael Shibko, of Dublin Scioto, and the Uhle brothers.  Shibko was leading with no misses at 15’.  The bar was raised to 15’6”.  The Uhle’s both cleared the height on their first attempts.  Both Shibko and Koah missed on their attempts.  The bar was raised to 16’3”.  Chris missed on his attempts and Joey cleared the height on his second attempt.   With the stadium lights on, a small crowd gathered as an announcement was made that the bar had been raised to 16’9” and that Joey Uhle was vaulting for a new state record.  With the crowd rhythmically clapping and his brother cheering him on, Joey closely missed on his attempts, but set the stage for Regionals and perhaps for what will be one of the most anticipated and watched events at this years Ohio State Championships.

 

I spoke with Joey and Chris and their coach, Josh Schall after the competition.  All three were relaxed and glad the competition was over. Josh said that all of the vaulters were nervous prior to the meet as they didn’t want to make a mistake and not get through to Regionals.  I asked coach Schall what the next week would be like in terms of practice and getting prepared for Regionals. He said that they would “Work on the little things.  The technical aspects of their vaults.  We’ll vault and do our best to stay healthy.  We’ll start to taper and relax the last couple days before we vault.”  As we talked, the boys listened, but their focus seemed to start to shift to their next events.  Joey won the Ohio Capital Conference 110m and 300m hurdles and Chris won the Ohio Capital Conference 800m run.  Both were competing in these events in Districts.  A testimony to both of their competitive natures and their athleticism.

 

 

The following interview took place following the district competition and prior to the Regionals.

 

Interview with Joey and Chris Uhle

5.23 – 5.25.10

 

 

OH Runners:  “The first time that you planted the pole, swung upwards and inverted what were your thoughts? What were you thinking?”

 

Joey:  “My first thought was "okay this feels great but what do I do now!" haha, I almost had no clue what I was doing, but it was love from the first moment.”

 

Chris:   “I was thinking this was insane. Then I started to panic a little bit. I had no idea where I was going to land. Also, I was thinking all right what do I do next. This was a while before I learned to turn. It felt amazing, but scary at the same time because I was disoriented and I didn't know where in the air I was. It was like no other feeling having the pole recoil in my hands and launch me up.

 

OH Runners : “ I understand that you have been vaulting for about 4 years, starting in the 7^th grade by going to a few practices with your older brother, Michael.  Michael won the Div. I State title in the PV in 2007. Right now you and your brother are both the favorites this season. How much influence did your brother have on your decision to concentrate on vaulting?”

 

Joey: “He was our biggest influence. If he had never done it we would not be doing it now. In fact, we might not be doing track all together. Before vaulting, soccer was our main sport.  I did track in 7th grade but didn't really like it because we couldn't vault in middle school. We went to the high school a few times in 7th and 8th grade with our brother to give it a try though.”

 

Chris:  “Michael was the deciding factor. We had been to a few practices with him that year and also the year before. We both played soccer and I was at a crossroads deciding whether I wanted to continue soccer or go with vaulting. When he won the state title I started leaning more towards vaulting, and the success I had even before my freshman season started, made me decide to just go with pole vault.”

 

OH Runners : “This years Ohio High School pole vault field is exceptional, especially in Central Ohio. If you look at all of the Districts throughout the State, here are the results of the 7 vaulters that cleared 15':

1. Joey Uhle (11), Olentangy,  Liberty 16'-03.00 Central
2. Jacob Blankenship (10), Sophmore,Gahana Lincoln 16'-00.00 Central
3. Chris Uhle (11), Olentangy Liberty 15'-06.00 Central
4. Austin Hicks (12), Lewis Center 15'-06.00 Central
5. Michael Shibko (12), Dublin Scioto 15'-00.00 Central
6. Dominic Koah (12),Teays Valley 15'-00.00 Central
7. Bret Meyers (12), Big Walnut 15'-00.00 Central

There are 7 vaulters at 14'.

Last years State meet was won with a vault of 15'-09.00.

It looks like the Pickerington Regional has shaped up to be perhaps the best pole vault competition that has ever taken place. Unfortunately, three of the best vaulters in the State will not get to advance to the State Championships.

What are your expectations going into Regionals? What are your goals and what do you want to accomplish?”

 

Joey: “The regional competition will easily be better than the state competition, but everyone will be itchin to get into one of the top four spots. I just want to play it safe and get into that top four. I won't start pulling out the big poles or messing around until I know I've made it.”

 

Chris: “Going into Regionals obviously I want to place in the top 4. Joey and I would both like to break the state record again and set it to 17' by the end of the year. With that being said, we want to make the Regionals a preview of what the state championship will hopefully be like and place 1,2. The order of who is 1 and who is 2 is yet to be decided. (However being #1 would be nice)” (Chris Uhle clears 15'6" at the Pickerington Regional - Photo By Mark Stonecipher)

 

OH Runners :  “Joey, lets change the subject from vault for a moment and talk about the 110m Hurdles and the 300M Hurdles.

You were 3rd in District this year in the 110m hurdles and 1st in the 300. When did you start running the hurdles? Why do you like the hurdles?

What are your expectations in these two events for Regionals?

How do you manage your practice and training time? Does running take time away from your vault training?

Do you think there will come a time when you won't hurdle and just concentrate on vaulting?”

 

Joey :  “Hurdling was something I picked up in the middle of last year, being a vaulter I have an eye for technique and you need to have good technique to hurdle. I like the event because it's a change of pace. Hopefully I can make it out of Regionals in the 300m, but I'm not really sure about the 110's. I'll focus more on the 300's because I have a better chance. Vault training comes first ALWAYS! I don't practice in the hurdles much though, only once a week or so. I don't think I'll be hurdling in college but there is a possibility, for now I'm just doing it to gain valuable points for my team at meets.”

 

OH Runners :  “Chris, you were 2nd in District's this year with a new PR and new School Record of 1:56.54. As I mentioned to you, I can't recall anyone doubling in the Pole Vault and the 800! When did you decide that you wanted to run the 800?

What are your expectations in the 800 for Regionals?

How do you manage your practice and training time? Does running take time away from your vault training?

Do you think there will come a time when you won't run the 800 and just concentrate on vaulting?”

 

Chris:  I ran XC for the first time this year. I fell in love with it and can’t wait until next year. Since I was on the XC team, I was on the Distance coaches emailing list. He sent out and e-mail asking who would want to run what event at an indoor meet in Kenyon. I wanted to pole vault just so I could gain some points for the team. I had also scheduled myself to vault the day prior at OSU. After learning this, my pole vault coach (Jason Schall), said that it wasn’t the greatest idea for me to vault two days in a row. I wanted to compete in an event though, so I asked my coach if there were any events he could see me doing well in. He said the 800 and I said that sounds like a great idea because my lab partner in Anatomy (John Buffington, also the previous school record holder) ran it and really loved it. So really it was a fluke.

 

My expectations in the 800 for Regionals are also to place in the top 4. After checking out the rankings in our region I have the fourth best time. I’m hoping to PR again so maybe I can go on to states with a 3rd place.

 

Running doesn’t exactly take time away from my training for vaulting. I have hardly trained for the 800. Every now and then I run 20 minutes after school, not as often as my distance coach, (Jared Mills), would like, but for the time being it seems to be enough. After school track season ends, I plan on picking up a regimen that I will train with for the 800. I will be doing a lot of training this summer for the 800, XC, and pole vault. I hope it pays off in all 3 events.

 

At the moment I do not think there will be a time when I won't run the 800 and just vault. However, I think that I will concentrate more on vaulting when I get to college because it is my main event. It all depends on what my coach wants, be it when I am in high school or college.

 

OH Runners : “Today and Tuesday (the days leading up to the boys regional vault competition), what will your workouts be?”

 

Joey :  Today was a hard vault practice. Tomorrow will be a light one with swing ups and pop ups, but that's about it.”

 

OH Runners : “Let’s go back to vault.  One last question for both of you. Do you believe 17' is possible this year? At Regionals if the situation presents itself?”

 

Joey : “17' is definitely there all the time at any meet. It just depends on how we're feeling the day of the competition. We have some big poles that we just got that could come in handy if the conditions are right.”

 

Chris:   “As I already mentioned, Joey and I would both like to break the state record again and set it to 17' by the end of the year. With that being said, we want to make the Regionals a preview of what the state championship will hopefully be like and place 1,2. The order of who is 1 and who is 2 is yet to be decided.”