Brent Michell would’ve been more likely to have built a pole vault pit than know how to use it 30 years ago. That’s when Michell thought his future involved buildings and construction. That lasted all of one term, though, at Ferris State University. Michell soon changed his major to education…
BILLINGS — Twenty-three years ago, Steve Yockim would not have predicted a long career coaching one track and field event. But that’s what happened. And before Yockim got to his 24th year as Sidney’s pole vault coach, he retired in order to tend to family medical issues he prefers to keep…
Jenn Suhr didn’t think she would be pole vaulting at the last Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field (as we know it), let alone breaking the meet record on Saturday. That’s because the 2012 Olympic champion planned to retire after last season. Her husband and coach, Rick Suhr, helped convince her not to. Read…
British pole vault record holder Steve Lewis has called time on his athletics career but kept quiet on his plans for the future. Announcing his decision on social media, the two-time Olympian and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games champion said he was proud of his career. Now 31, Smith announced himself…
Forty-seven years. Think of that. One place. One passion. A passion that only grew with the decades. But Gene Dall says it’s time: He’s leaving. Some say retiring. But not now. Maybe never. Dall, 70, has coached boys winter and spring track and field all these years at North Rockland…
ESCANABA — John Prokos of Escanaba has held a variety of positions during his coaching career. Following this year’s Upper Peninsula Track Finals, Prokos stepped down from his most recent position, assistant track coach at Escanaba High School. Overall, he had been competing and coaching for 70 years. “It was…
Picture this: an embattled and nationally-renowned track coach walking onto his former university’s home track a month after abruptly retiring — a shocking move that spelled an end to 33 years at Idaho State. He has a salt-and-pepper colored beard few have seen. He’s beloved by students and peers. He…
POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State Athletics announced that track and field Head Coach Dave Nielsen is retiring after 33 seasons of coaching. The retirement is immediate and Assistant Coach Hillary Merkley has been named Interim Head Track and Field Coach while Nate Houle will continue to serve as an assistant.…
Moscow (AFP) – Russian star pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva said Wednesday she plans to retire after the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, where she has her sights sets on a third Olympic gold. “If everything goes as planned, I will be in a new role next year,” Isinbayeva…
PARIS — Former world and Olympic champion Stacy Dragila ended her 14-year pole vaulting career with a second-place finish at the DecaNation athletics meet on Wednesday. The 38-year-old American won gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, the first games in which women competed in the pole vault, and is…
