USATF Sanctioned
9th Year Running
Olympic & World Class Field
Certified USATF Runways
Track & Field Excellence
Past fields have included Katerina Stefanidi (2016 Olympic gold medalist and former Island Record holder), three-time Canadian Olympian Anicka Newell, 2025 National Outdoor Champion Austin Miller, and current Island Record holder Sondre Guttormsen. Clinics have been led by Billy Olson (11-time world record holder) and 1984 Olympian Doug Lytle. This is a beach meet with a championship-caliber runway and a championship-caliber field.
The Island Record itself has a pedigree: Sondre Guttormsen currently holds the men's mark, breaking the record previously set by Austin Miller (and, before him, Trey Oates). On the women's side, the record has changed hands too — Chloe Timberg, who broke the mark previously held by Katerina Stefanidi.
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Austin Miller
2025 National Outdoor Champion; former Island Record holder
Jill Marois
She competed at High Point University for four years accumulating indoor and outdoor school records, along with 3 conference titles
Carson Waters
Big South Conference champion holding conference meet records
Anicka Newell
Three time Canadian Olympian
Past Participants
Chloe Timberg
Rutgers standout and 2024 NCAA champion who set the current NCAA collegiate record (4.71m). Went on to win the 2026 USA Indoor title and represent Team USA at the 2026 World Indoor Championships in Poland.
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Sondre
Guttormsen
Current PVIP Island Record holder. Two-time Olympian (2020 Tokyo, 2024 Paris) and three-time NCAA champion at Princeton. Set the Norwegian indoor record at 6.06m (19'11") in 2026 and won gold at the 2023 European Indoor Championships.
Katerina
Stefanidi
2016 Olympic gold medalist (Rio, 4.85m) and 2017 World Champion. A former PVIP Island Record holder, she's widely regarded as the greatest female athlete in Greek sports history.
Billy Olson
1980s vaulting legend and longtime Paradise clinic coach. The first man to clear 19 feet indoors, he was ranked #1 in the world in 1982, won back-to-back USA Indoor titles (1982, 1983), and competed at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Inducted into the Texas Track & Field Coaches Hall of Fame.
Not Just for the Pros
Key West Track & Field Club welcomes athletes of all ages and skill levels. From beginners to Olympians, we foster a supportive environment for everyone. Past entrants have ranged from age 9 to 75.
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Friday clinic (Jan 8, 10 AM–Noon) open to all skill levels — learn from coaches who've trained Olympians.
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Multiple flights across the day mean age-group vaulters get real competition, not just a warm-up act for the elites.
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Watch elite flights up close, then vault the same runway yourself.
Getting Here With Your Poles
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Can I rent poles? Absolutely — onsite via The Pole Drop. Contact Sean Young, 321-266-8916, Skypolevaulter.com.
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What are my shipping options?
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Use your own SWA Cargo account: $100 round trip. You handle the shipment under your account; we handle pickup/delivery between Ft. Lauderdale and Key West, and return-ship the same way. Multiple vaulters' poles can go in a single bag.
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Use our SWA Cargo account: $450 round trip per bag. We handle everything start to finish — a fully managed option, great for teams. Multiple poles per bag allowed.
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Can I bring poles with me instead of shipping? Yes — many vaulters fly Southwest directly into Ft. Lauderdale and check poles like luggage ($50 or less per bag, depending on ticket class), then rent a car for the scenic 4-hour drive to Key West down the Overseas Highway.
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What if I want to fly straight into Key West? Ship your poles via SWA Cargo and use one of our pole concierge services — you can fly directly into Key West without driving or handling poles in transit yourself.
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Athlete arrival and practice: Jan 7–8. Packet pickup: Jan 8, 3–6 PM.
