Jeff

Hartwig

Event:  Pole Vault
Height: 6-3
Weight: 190
PRs: 6.03m/19-9.25AR (2000)
Born: 1967, in St. Louis, Mo.
Current Residence: Jonesboro, Ark.
High School: Howell HS, St. Charles, Mo. ‘85
Colleges: Florissant Valley CC ‘87, Arkansas State ‘90
Coach: Earl Bell
Agent:  Peter Stubbs
Club: Nike

Career Highlights: Indoor & Outdoor American record holder; 1999 World Indoor silver medalist; 1998 Goodwill Games champion; 4-time USA Outdoor champ (‘98, '99, '02, ‘03); 2-time USA Indoor champ ('99, '07); masters (40+) world record holder

At age 39 last season (now 40), Hartwig continued to be among the top U.S. vaulters, proving it by winning the 2007 AT&T USA Indoor title, the USATF Pole Vault Summit in Reno, Nevada, and finishing second at the USA Outdoor Championships. His winning clearance of 5.85m/19-2.25 in Jonesboro, Ark., on May 19, 2007, was his highest clearance since soaring over a crossbar set at 5.86m/19-2.75 on July 4, 2004 in Jonesboro. In 2006, he won the Millrose Games over two Olympic gold medalists and one silver medalist. Hartwig had a career year in 2002, setting three American records in the final weeks of the indoor season, finishing at 6.02m/19 feet 9 inches...Only world record holder Sergey Bubka of Ukraine and Radion Gataullin have vaulted higher indoors...though poor weather kept him from more records outdoors, Hartwig won the 2002 IAAF Grand Prix final and achieved his first #1 world ranking. A high schooler who never cleared 15 feet, Hartwig matured into one of the world's premiere vaulters. He never cleared 18 feet in college, while at Florissant Valley, where he was coached by Norris Stevenson. Since graduation he has worked with Earl Bell, a former world record holder (18-7.25 in 1976), at Bell's pole vault center in Jonesboro, Ark. Hartwig and wife Karol raise boa constrictors and pythons for sale to pet stores. At times the Hartwigs have more than 100 snakes on the premises...they don't own any poisonous snakes. The couple also own six dogs...Hartwig likes to find time to visit zoos when he travels around the world to different meets, and he gives snake presentations to schools around Jonesboro...Coach Bell has referred to him as a ‘modern-day Tarzan'...Hartwig didn't start lifting weights until college...He takes no more than 10 jumps a week and trains like a sprinter to get faster, stronger and avoid injury...the prospect of being the first American over 20 feet is interesting, but not a big motivator for Hartwig. He says, ‘It's a mark along the way to the world record. It's been done before. I put more emphasis on the world record itself.' After failing to clear a height in qualifying at the 2000 Olympic Trials due to blurred vision from contact lenses drying up on him, Hartwig had laser eye surgery in September 2000 to correct his vision...poles went missing for an extended period on his return flight from the 2000 Grand Prix Final in Doha, Qatar.

Competition Results:
2007: USA Outdoor runner-up (5.70m/18-8.25)... 15th in qualifying at World Outdoors (5.55m/18-2.5)...USA Indoor champ (5.80m/19-0.25)...1st at Pole Vault Summit (5.70m/18-8.25)...3rd at Reebok Grand Prix (5.60m/18-4.5)...3rd at Prefontaine Classic (5.45m/17-10.5)...3rd at Thessaloniki (5.55m/18-2.5)...ranked #2 in U.S. by T&FN...best of 5.85m/19-2.25.
2006: 3rd at USA Outdoors (5.60m/18-4.5)...USA Indoor runner-up (5.70m/18-8.25)...1st at St. Charles (5.72m/18-9)...9th at Rome (5.52m/18-1.25)...ranked #4 in U.S...best of 5.72m/18-9.
2005:  Did not compete at USA Outdoor Champs...5th at Modesto (5.65m/18-6.5)...ranked #6 in U.S. by T&FN...best of 5.65m/18-6.5.
2004: USA Indoors runner-up (5.75m/18-10.25)...no-height at Olympic Trials qualifying...1st at Jonesboro on 2/22 (5.88m/19-3.5)...1st at Jonesboro on 2/18 (5.80m/19-0.25)...1st at Nike Prefontaine Classic (5.80m/19-.25)...Tied for 2nd at Verizon Millrose Games (5.60m/18-4.5)...2nd at Drake Relays (5.61m/18-4.75)...2nd at Payton Jordan US Open (5.80m/19-0.25)...1st at Jonesboro (5.86m/19-2.75)...2nd at Modesto Relays (5.75m/18-10.25)...ranked #10 in world (#4 U.S.) by T&FN...best of 5.86m/19-2.75.