Pole Vault in Paradise! Maggie to Vault into the New Year in Sunny Key West!
The sun-drenched paradise of Key West, Florida will be the center of attention on Jan. 6, 2024 as it hosts the thrilling Pole Vault in Paradise beach vault event. This gathering will showcase remarkable lineup of pole-vaulters, young and young at heart, including Olympians, world champions, masters, and the extraordinary sports novel hero, Maggie Steele.
A breathtaking oceanfront venue will provide an idyllic setting for this electrifying event, sponsored by the Key West Track & Field Club. All proceeds will go towards promoting the sport in the Lower Keys community. Since its inception in 2019, the event has raised over $60,000 in cash and equipment for the teams.
Adding an extra layer of sunscreen to this sun-soaked celebration is the featured “guest”, Maggie Steele, the inspiring heroine of the action sports novel "Maggie Vaults Over the Moon". This promises to be a banner day for Maggie and all of the real-life competitors who journey to this subtropical paradise, who will receive a copy of Maggie as a giveaway for the first 100 registrants.
"Maggie has journeyed all over the country and the world, but she's never experienced Key West, which is a paradise for pole-vaulting," said author Grant Overstake. "It’s gearing up to be an unforgettable experience."
This annual event draws pole vaulters and fans from all corners of the globe to the Florida peninsula, where the average high temperatures in early January are a balmy 75° degrees. They'll be cheered on by a crowd of spectators basking in the sun and enjoying the sea breeze, a likely tailwind for athletes, who will be vaulting from an elevated runway set on the sand.
Pole Vault in Paradise includes cash prizes for any man or woman breaking the Island Record. There's also prize money for any man jumping 19 feet and/or any woman jumping 15 feet.
The competition registration is $100, and all registrants age 19+ must have a current USATF membership card. Members who join or renew before December 31, 2023 will enjoy membership at no additional cost for 2024.
The competition starts bright and early with the runway opening at 8:00 am and the first flights beginning at 9:00 am. The times and flights will be posted when entries close. There will be a wide selection of pole vault poles for rent, so there's no need for vaulters to bring their own.
The Open Men and Women’s Divisions have a prize pool with 1st Place winning $1,250, 2nd Place winning $750, and 3rd Place winning $500. There's an additional $500 for anyone breaking the Island Record. The Men’s record of 5.61m (about 18 feet 5 inches) is shared by Nate Richardtz and Austin Miller in 2022. Emily Grove set the Women’s record at 4.35m (about 14 feet 3 inches) in our inaugural year (2019).
There's also a $5,000 prize pool for all men vaulting 19’. One man jumping 19’ gets the whole pool. If two men jump 19’, they split the $5,000. The same goes for all women vaulting 15’. One woman jumping 15’ gets the whole pool. If two women jump 15’, they split the $5,000. If no one jumps 19’ or 15’, then no money is paid.
The young adult action sports novel “Maggie Vaults Over the Moon” is the story of a courageous farm girl who overcomes tragedy and soars to new heights as a pole-vaulter. The book has been endorsed by US Olympic vaulters, coaches, and other key figures in the sport for its positive message, and was named one of the all-time best Track & Field novels by CITIUS MAG.
Overstake, who lived in South Florida as a sportswriter for The Miami Herald, is thrilled that Maggie will be sharing the awards stand at one of the nation's most beautiful pole-vaulting events.
Maggie is endorsed by Katerina Stefanidi, who wrote the foreword for the new edition!
“Thanks to the organizers, the Key West community, and a great number of local sponsors, the Pole Vault in Paradise has become the kind of competition that you simply cannot miss!” Overstake said.
So, what are you waiting for? Pack your flip-flops and sunscreen and join the fun! Register here!
ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!
Can't make it to Key West? No worries! Dive into the epic tale of "Maggie", featuring an inspiring message from Olympic Champion Katerina Stefanidi and thought-provoking questions by Dr. Melissa White, coach of 2023 Team USA Pole-Vaulter, Bridgett (Guy) Williams. Get your copy today in paperback, ebook, or audio by Tavia Gilbert.