The Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections Podcast

At first glance, most pole vault pits look remarkably similar.

Underneath the top pad, however, are dozens of engineering decisions that can affect safety, performance, maintenance, durability, and long-term value.

In this Gill1918 Project episode, Mike Cunningham explains what really makes one pole vault pit different from another, including:

🧱 How foam layers balance landing comfort and support

🌧️ Why vinyl construction and weather protection matter

↕️ How reversible, edge-to-edge top pads distribute wear

🔗 How hardware and fastening systems keep pit sections connected

📐 Why the geometry around the vault box is so challenging

🛡️ How standard base-pad designs protect athletes around the standards

Mike also shares the most revealing question a coach can ask a manufacturer:

“Why was your pit designed this way?”

The answer can reveal far more about a landing system than its color, price, or catalog specifications.