The 2015 North American Pole Vaulting Championships will pack the streets of Clovis with spectators and athletes.
Organizers say it started back in 1994, when Coach Bob Fraley had been to a New Orleans street pole vaulting event – liked the energy and the aspect of athletes being so close to the fans. and decided to bring it to Clovis.
Seven teams are formed with two elite athletes and two high school athletes.
“One of the benefits of doing it here in clovis is to demonstrate to the national usa track and field championship people who make those decisions of as to where that event is located is that we want them to see what a great crowd we can draw in clovis so that perhaps they would consider having the national championships here at buchannan stadium.” – Carole Lester, Executive Director, Business Organization of Old Town.
The championship one of about 40 events that Clovis puts on every year that helps local merchants and is a really a boost to the economy and brings thousands into the city spending money, according to Carole Lester, the Executive Director, Business Organization of Old Town.
“We are expecting at least 10,000, we are hoping for more than that. Anytime we get a large crowd into old town or in Clovis itself is great for the economy. There are a lot of people who travel from out of state and they bring their families and they stay at local hotels and eat at local restaurants and they stay here for sometimes a week and they stay through the weekend most of the time.” – Carole Lester
The event takes place inside the Friday Night Farmer’s Market at 4th and Pollasky, from 5:30pm to 10:00pm.
www.oldtownclovis.org/north-american-pole-vault-championship
