Laurie McElroy, better known as Coach Mac to her athletes, comes to Austin Pole Vault & Throws after spending 20 years at the collegiate level including the University of North Texas, the University of Chicago, Texas State University, and Concordia University Chicago. During her tenure, McElroy coached 4 NCAA National Champions (400H x 2, 800m, and Pole Vault) and numerous school record holders...
Archive for: Coach
Jamie Riojas
Athletics was always a part of my life growing up and I was four sport athlete in high school. I attended Texas A&M from 2001-2005 where I was a four-year Lettermen in the discus, shot put, hammer, and weight throw. During my time there I as a Big X11 All-Conference discus thrower who qualified for Nationals in 2003 with a personal best of 172.4…
Ben Ploetz
My passion for track and field started in high school when I got to watch my older brother pole vault and run hurdles. Before I knew it, we were both competing for the Bobcats at Southwest Texas State University. During my time as a Bobcat, I was a three-time All-Conference Decathlete and two-time Conference Champion…
Ben Skrla
Ben’s accomplishments at Texas A&M placed him in the top of the field. His personal bests were 178’ in the discus, 170’ in the hammer, and 61’ in the weight throw. He qualified for regionals in all 4 years of competition in the discus and finished as high as 9th place at the SEC Championships. Ben is a graduate of both Texas A&M and Rice University...
Brian Elmore
Coach Brian Elmore is a long-standing pillar in the pole vault community. In the fall of 2000, University of Texas coach Dana Boone asked Brian if he would assist her in starting a women's vault team. The program got going, starting with just one young lady and a couple of poles. He coached the first UT female Big 12 pole vault champion, and went on a run of 8 consecutive Big 12 victories including NAIA indoor and outdoor champions and record holders. During that time Brian also coached UT’s first female NCAA pole vault champion and NCAA indoor record holder. Prior to the University of Texas, he served as a coach of the Austin Striders from ’91-’94. In '97 Brian founded Lone Star Pole Vaulting and went on to produce 10 UIL State Champions, 2 UIL record holders, 9 private school champions and 2 records, 2 USATF Junior Olympic Champions, and 7 AAU record holder Junior Olympic Champions. He is a certified master level pole vault official.