4th of July Pole Vault Competition

We have no early registration, just show up.

Thank you to everyone that helped at the 2011 event. The women's top height was 12'02" by Brigitte Gross and the men's top height was 16'02" by Gene Brooks a Concordia Alumni.

Warm-ups will begin at 8 am and the competition will start at 9 am with the bar at 5 feet. We will have warm-up sessions every hour for 10/15 minutes. It is a rolling competition so show up early to make sure you get in at the height you want.

Men's Meet Record, Jeremy Scott, 2006, 18'00"

Women's Meet Record, Natalie Willer, 2008, 13'06"

This is a fun event with music, friendship and high vaults.

Seward Nebraska's Annual 4th of July

Our first 4th of July competition took place in 1991, so this summer will be our 21st competition. Some things have changed since then. The original competition included about 18 top college male vaulters from colleges in and around Nebraska. It was held as entertainment for the crowds gathering for the firework display at Concordia College's football field. Women's pole vault was not a sport and the mullet was a popular hair style... Yes, things have changed.

Since then the fireworks got moved to Plum Creek and we moved the pole vault competition to the downtown streets of Seward, NE. Women's pole vaulting is now a sport on the high school, college and world level. Concordia changed its name to Concordia University. The football field in now turf and there is a big new field house and arena on the hill side where the fireworks were launched from. And thankfully the mullet hair cut is no longer around, for the most part.

Most notably, the biggest change is the amount of vaulters that show up to vault. That small group of 18 has grown into 60-65 boys, girls, men, women and a few of the original 18 still picking up a pole to vault. It is now one of the oldest active street vault competition in the country. It is a great event that gives vault enthusiasts a chance to show their vaulting skills in a relaxed but competitive atmosphere. Over the years the competitive levels have soared, the crowds have grown and have become a favorite of the spectators attending Seward's Annual 4th of July activities and celebrations.

Today athletes from around the Nebraska and the United States come to participate and watch the annual event. We have had competitors from NY, IN, IL, MN, TX, MO, KS, SD, CO, OK, NM, WY and CA to mention a few. The competition divisions include, Open, College, High School and Youth for both men and women.

Contact information
E-mail Jason Berry at: jason@wildberrygroup.com
 

Competition Results

2011 Results Downtown Seward
2010 Results Concordia Indoors (Rain)
2009 Results Downtown Seward
2008 * Downtown Seward
2007 * Downtown Seward
2006 * Downtown Seward
2005 * Downtown Seward
2004 * Downtown Seward
2003 * Downtown Seward
2002 * Concordia Campus
2001 * Downtown Seward
2000 * Downtown Seward
1999 * Downtown Seward
1998 * Downtown Seward
1997 - DNV
1996 - DNV
1995 - DNV
1994 * Concordia Stadium
1993 * Concordia Stadium
1992 * Concordia Stadium
1991  
*                     
Concordia Stadium

*Adding results as they are found from past years.