Athletics

About

I started my athletic career in high-school discovering the sport of pole-vault. I wasn’t a fast runner, I couldn’t throw far, and I couldn’t run long distances. I was always an odd kid, and went for the unconventional or uncommon route in anything. So naturally I just had to try out the sport where you run with a long pole, plant it into the ground, and launch yourself into the air. I fell in love.

Throughout my entire career both in academia and athletics, pole-vaulting was a sport that taught me a lot of things from working out with your team, constant repetitive tasks, leadership even through adversity and failure, and goal setting. It was this sport that during my time competing competitively in college I’d shape my whole life around. I never had anything given to me in sports or school, and trust me pole-vault gives you nothing unless you work for it.

I owe a-lot of where I am to my coaches, teammates, and the sport itself. It gave me the confidence as a young kid, goals to work towards, new job opportunities and connections, and introduced me to some life-long friends.

Achievements

Stevens Institute of Technology
– 2x Coaching staff of the year
– 5x Indoor/Outdoor Empire 8 Conference Champions in the pole-vault
– 6x Indoor/Outdoor regional qualifiers in the pole-vault

Manhattan College
Personal Best – 4.60m/15’1ft
College Captain
– 2x Top 3 Finisher in M.A.A.C Championships

New Jersey High School
– 2013 – Outdoor County Champion
– 2012 – Indoor County Champion

Certifications

AAAI/ISMA Certified Personal Trainer

AAAI/ISMA Certified Sports Nutritionist

Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED Certified


Today

Since my time has come and gone as a competitive athlete in the pole-vault I continue my athletic career coaching middle-school to college level athletes in the pole-vault. Leveraging all the philosophies I’ve developed as a pole-vaulter including athletic performance, and strength & conditioning I try to bring into the group fitness setting as a team coach. I help provide personal training in a group class setting for upwards of 36 members regularly through a weekly program focusing on resistance and cardio based workouts.

These days I still continue to stay active by turning my focus to endurance running events, and prep for a first triathlon.

In my spare time, with all of the knowledge and lessons that I learned through my years of training as a pole vaulter I started a website dedicated to the sport. I am going to be sharing all of the tips, tricks, tutorials, workouts, and everything else related that I have learned over my 13+ year career, absolutely free. So check it out over on, The Pole-Vault Companion.

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Stay connected

Looking for a pole-vault coach, or maybe for some tips, maybe even just to chat about pole-vault? Feel free to shoot me an email at chris@chrissandoli.net.
I continue to stay in shape through group fitness classes, and most recently becoming an avid runner, competing casually in races from 5k’s all the way to half-marathons. You can check out some of my recent posts over on my blog.

A few personal bests

  • Pole Vault – 4.60m/15’1″
  • 1 Mile – 5:35
  • 5k – 19:25
  • 5 mile – 32:29
  • 10k – 42:39
  • Half Marathon – 1:34:21
    • Pole Vault – 4.60m/15’1″
    • 1 Mile – 5:35
    • 5k – 19:25
    • 5 mile – 32:29
    • 10k – 42:39

Check out some of my recent posts

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