Apex Vaulting Club

[Branko720]

There is a new and exciting pole vault club in the Bergen Passaic County area. We are located in West Milford New Jersey and are USATF approved. If you're interested in improving your technique and becoming a part of a team contact director Branko Miric.

Branko720@aol.com

Website coming soon

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/rec_t ... ntial.html

Club helps pole vaulters reach potential
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Last updated: Monday August 10, 2009, 8:21 AM
BY DAVID M. ZIMMER
Suburban Trends
STAFF WRITER
0 Comments
A local track and field club has its members reaching new heights through hard work, dedication and priceless coaching from some of the best, current and former high school and college athletes in the region.

Apex Vaulting, led by volunteer West Milford High School and Ramapo College Track and Field coach Branko Miric, was formed in 2007. Now, with almost 30 members, the club is making its mark as the home to some of the most decorated pole-vaulters in northern New Jersey.

Miric, a Garfield resident and dedicated pole-vaulter in his own right began coaching in 2005 with the West Milford Track and Field program. He found immediate successful by helping coach the boys' program to a county title that same year.

However, with a passion for pole vaulting and a drive to help local pole-vaulters meet their potential, he began focusing on vaulting and went on to start Apex Vaulting.

The club allows the few pole-vaulters in the area to share information and critiques, so every member of the club can perform to their potential, something Miric said he dearly missed when he was vaulting in high school.

"I didn't want to let kids who could do well, not do well, because they didn't have proper coaching," Miric said. "I was only a 10'6" vaulter in high school and I thought I could have done better with the proper coaching. Some of our [high school] kids are now doing 13'6" and 14' regularly and continuing to improve their form."

The Bergen County based club uses the pole vaulting "pits" at the West Milford High School track as a regular practice facility during the spring and summer months for many of the local vaulting talents. In the winter, the group sets up at the New York City Armory, in order for club members to maintain their form all year.

While inherent talent is a good start, Miric said that vaulting takes a lot more dedication than most track and field events. He said at West Milford High School, pole-vaulters typically spend a few more hours each day perfecting their form.

While Miric does not actively recruit local high school athletes to his club to avoid interfering with the athletes' training, if a high school coach makes a request, he said he is happy to try and make those pole-vaulters the best they can be.

For the last few years, Miric has been working with internationally recognized coaches to help the club's athletes reach personal bests, club records, meet championships, state titles and even All-American status.

When Miric originally started working with local pole-vaulters he would bring the athletes to practice with another club. However, as his club's pole-vaulters started exhibiting drastic improvements with their form at practices, winning meets and setting records, there were enough interested athletes to allow Miric to start his own club and help more competitors reach their personal goals.

Currently, the club has more than 75 poles, allowing its membership to practice at any facility, including a beach vault at Seaside Heights planned for this weekend.

Since, the club is hardly short of equipment or practice facilities, Miric said the main focus of the club's efforts are now dedicated to learn, improve and reach their personal bests.

"We may not have the fanciest most high tech equipment, the long tradition, or even the best facilities, but what we do have is passion," Miric said. "Pole-vaulters are few and far between and if we can help someone succeed who is willing to work we will be there."