Ellie Braidic
Personal Bests
200 Meter Dash
27.86
Long Jump
14-6
Pole Vault
12-3
Pandora, Ohio is a small village in Northwestern Ohio. It lies approximately halfway between Lima and Findlay. Pandora is home to Ellie Braidic, one of Ohio’s best High School girl’s pole vaulters. Ellie is the current D3 girl’s State vault champion with a vault of 12’-03. Along with, Amanda Hotaling of North Baltimore, she is one of only three girls in all state divisions returning with vaults over 12’. The 3rd is the defending D1 Champion, Olivia Bergesen of Mason. In the indoor season she vaulted 12’ and most recently, she placed second to Amanda in the Ohio Indoor Championships with a vault of 11-00. She has shown that she is not only ready to defend her title, but ready to challenge the 13’ standard.
OHRunners recently spoke with Ellie about her career and the upcoming season.
OHRunners: Ellie, Pole Vaulting is one of the most challenging, most technical and physical track and field events that there is. It requires the speed of a sprinter and the strength and spacial awareness of a gymnast. When did you first get involved in Track? What events did you participate in? When did you first start vaulting?
Ellie: I have been involved in sports since I was a young girl. I started in gymnastics, played basketball and now compete in volleyball and track. I started running and vaulting in the 7th grade at Pandora-Gilboa. I also ran 100m, 200m and the 4 x 400.
OHRunners: What attracted you to vaulting?
Ellie: My coach asked me to try it since he knew I had been in gymnastics for 10 years.
OHRunners: Where did you take gymnastics? Did you do competitive gymnastics? What Level were you?
Ellie: When I was little, my parents encouraged me to do gymnastics because I was always doing flips in the house. I did competitive gymnastics at Findlay Gold Medal, and then I went to Halkers Gold in Ottawa, OH. I made it to level eight. My parents were very supportive of my gymnastics and even today they drive me to a lot of my practices. My dad helps me a lot on my conditioning and with pole vault in the off season.
OHRunners: Do you compete for Pandora in Varsity Volleyball?
Ellie: Yes, I play varsity volleyball for Pandora. I started my sophomore year, but was unable to play my junior year because of a broken ankle.
OHRunners: You participated in this years Ohio indoor season. Where do you practice?
Ellie: I practiced at Oberlin College.
OHRunners: Who do you vault with at Oberlin? Who coaches you when you work out at Oberlin?
Ellie: My coach was Alan Roark. I vaulted with a lot Cleveland area vaulters. Such as Matt Zvosec, Karl Pierce, Ryan Gilbert, Merek Mutch, Christine Bohan.
OHRunners: What is a typical training week for you? Mon-Friday with a competition on Saturday.
Ellie: I average 10-12 hrs. weekly. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I go to the Y and workout with a personal trainer. I also have Volleyball practice on Wednesdays. Thursday I go to Oberlin to jump. I take Friday’s off to rest.
OHRunners: What type of workouts do you do with a personal trainer? How much time do you spend on running, weight training, technique and vaulting?
Ellie: I use the Y for mostly lifting and core workouts. The workouts focus mostly on my triceps, biceps, and shoulders. Also, I do leg workouts such as squats. And occasionally, I box.
OHRunners: Describe your typical vault workout. What is your warm up? What do you try to accomplish in a practice?
Ellie: For my warm up I do plant drills down the length of the football field. Then, I do about three short run pop up drills. Next are vertical flip up drills. Then I do a couple full runs followed by working on getting vertical on a raised runway. I am always trying to perfect my form in practice and I spend a lot of time, just as a gymnast on form and technique.
OHRunners: Your biggest competitor is Amanda Hotaling. North Baltimore is just 26 miles from Pandora. You finished 2nd to her in your freshman season and just edged her out last spring at State. Most recently, she took the top honor at Indoor States with a vault of 11'6". You were second with 11'00. What is your relationship with Amanda? Do you help each other and encourage each other? Pole Vaulters are a unique community of athletes, just as gymnasts. Even as competitors, there is a unique friendship. Tell me a little more about your and Amanda's competitiveness and cooperation.
Ellie: We were in gymnastics together and have remained friends. When we first arrive at a meet, we both talk to each other and find out how each other are doing. During the competition, we are friendly rivals. After the meet, we both congratulate each other.
OHRunners: What pole are you using now? What length? Are you using several different poles depending on weather conditions?
Ellie: Right now I use a 13ft, 155 lb. pole. The weather can be a huge factor in vaulting.
OHRunners: Describe yourself as a person and as an athlete? How would you describe yourself as a competitor? What motivates Ellie?
Ellie: The will to be the best I can be, competing and having fun with other good vaulters.
I try to be nice and friendly with everyone. I like to joke around with my group of friends and I try to be a role model for younger vaulters who look up to me. As an athlete, I like to work hard to be the best that I can be. And, I don’t like to lose.
OHRunners: What do you like about vaulting? What do you dislike?
Ellie: I like the thrill of jumping with other good vaulters throughout Ohio. I do not like to vault in the rain or cold.
OHRunners: How do you mentally prepare for a competition? Do you visualize your vaults?
Ellie: I talk and joke with my coach. I do not visualize vaults.
OHRunners: What are your goals for this season? Will we see a 13’ vault this season? What will it take to accomplish it?
Ellie: Stay healthy. Since I broke my ankle after state last summer. I would like to vault 13’ or above this year. I am confident that if I remain focused, listen to my coach, get bigger poles and perfect my form, I can get above my goal of 13’.
OHRunners: Not many girls have been over 13' in Ohio. If you can get over that height, it will place you in a rather elite group of pole vaulters. That being said, what are your plans for your career? Would you hope to continue vaulting at the next level?
Ellie: For my career with pole vaulting, I would like to go to college and pole vault there.
OHRunners: Thank you Ellie. We are looking forward to watching you vault this spring and to seeing you challenge the 13’ level and a new state record.