A Huge Coaching Name Passes - Jan Johnson - RIP @ 74

[JAVMAN83]

https://www.usatf.org/news/2025/usatf-mourns-passing-of-olympic-bronze-medalist-jo

Jan was such an advocate for the pole vault at all levels, especially at the HS level. His younger brother, Tim, also set the national HS indoor record in the mid-70s. So sad to learn of his passing at all-too-young an age.

 

[Altor]

IIRC, Jan was the one responsible for the ASTM specifications of the current "collar". He may also be one who lobbied manufacturers to include the "landing zone" box that is on many of the universal covers that encourages vaulters to try to land in the middle of the pit if they stall out.

 

[JAVMAN83]

IIRC, Jan was the one responsible for the ASTM specifications of the current "collar". He may also be one who lobbied manufacturers to include the "landing zone" box that is on many of the universal covers that encourages vaulters to try to land in the middle of the pit if they stall out.

Very true. Jan did what he could to help save the pole vault from extinction at the HS level during the late 90s-early 2000s when a couple of terrible accidents resulted in tragic deaths. One of those was the requirement for vaulters to never use a pole rated below their weight or gripping near the top of the pole. I saw Jan interviewed a few years ago (a few is within 10-15 years for me) and he was asked about the whole weight rating system implemented as well as the collars and he said as much they were CYA to counteract the ADs and lawyers trying to ban the vault.