 | ||
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men'sathletics | ||
Representing the United States | ||
| World Indoor Championships | ||
 | Maebashi 1999 | Pole vault |
Jeff Hartwig (born September 25, 1967 inSt. Louis, Missouri) is anAmericanpole vaulter.
In 1998, Hartwig set two North American records with 6.00 m (19 ft 8 in) and 6.01 m (19 ft8+1⁄2 in). The latter was an improvement of 16 centimetres from his personal best of 5.85 m (19 ft2+1⁄4 in) from 1997. In 1999, he won US national championships by improving hisown record to 6.02 m (19 ft 9 in), and his currentNorth American record of 6.03 m (19 ft9+1⁄4 in) followed in 2000. Jeff Hartwig held the American record until July 27, 2019, whenSam Kendricks set the American pole vault record by jumping 6.06 m (19 ft10+1⁄2 in). His personal best indoor is 6.02 m (19 ft 9 in), also anarea record. OnlyRenaud Lavillenie,Sergey Bubka,Steven Hooker, and currentworld record holderArmand Duplantis have jumped higher in an indoor competition.
With 5.86 m (19 ft2+1⁄2 in) on 4 July 2004, Hartwig broke the world's best performance for men over35 years; it lasted until 28 February 2024 when Renaud Lavillenie, aged 38, jumped 5.91 m (19 ft4+1⁄2 in). He also holds the world's best performance for men over40 years at 5.70 m (18 ft8+1⁄4 in), achieved while placing second at the U.S. Olympic Trials, 29 June 2008.
Hartwig has received theJim Thorpe Award as the best American field events athlete in 1998 and 1999.[1]
Hartwig vaulted atFrancis Howell High School (Weldon Spring, Missouri) and collegiately for Florissant Valley Community College andArkansas State University. He has trained under the tutelage of USATF Hall of Famer and former world record holderEarl Bell for a number of years. Hartwig has been hired as the pole vault coach forMICDS High School in St. Louis.
Aside from vaulting Hartwig also had another passion,reptiles. For over 15 years Hartwig has been raising reptiles - mostlyboas andpythons, but alsotortoises,monitors,iguanas, andcaimans. Hartwig's first snake was aBurmese python named "Fore", which was given to him by fellow pole vaulter Lane Lohr. It was 1992 when Hartwig decided to give breeding a shot and was very successful in producing 23 baby pythons.
Hartwig raises the snakes to sell to pet stores. Hartwig has been known to have more than 100 snakes on the premises. None of the snakes that Hartwig raises are venomous. In his free time, Hartwig also enjoys visiting zoos and giving presentations to local schools in his former hometown of Jonesboro, Arkansas. Hartwig's coach Earl Bell has referred to him as a 'modern-dayTarzan'.
Hartwig holds the current Masters Track and Field American Records in the M35 and M40 Pole Vault.[2]
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Representing the United States | ||||
| 1996 | Olympic Games | Atlanta, United States | 12th | |
| 1998 | Goodwill Games | Uniondale, United States | 1st | 6.01 m AR, =CR |
| 1999 | World Indoor Championships | Maebashi, Japan | 2nd | |
| 2002 | World Cup | Madrid, Spain | 2nd | |
| IAAF Grand Prix Final | Paris, France | 1st | ||
| 2003 | World Athletics Final | Monte Carlo, Monaco | 4th | |
| 2004 | World Athletics Final | Monte Carlo, Monaco | 6th | |
Hartwig has steadily climbed theTrack and Field News world rankings, peaking at number 1 in 2002.[3]
| Year | Event | World ranking | US ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Pole vault | - | 9th |
| 1996 | Pole vault | - | 4th |
| 1997 | Pole vault | - | 5th |
| 1998 | Pole vault | 2nd | 1st |
| 1999 | Pole vault | 2nd | 1st |
| 2000 | Pole vault | 3rd | 2nd |
| 2001 | Pole vault | 2nd | 1st |
| 2002 | Pole vault | 1st | 1st |
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Men's Pole Vault Best Year Performance 1998 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Men's Pole Vault Best Year Performance 2000 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Men's Pole Vault Best Year Performance alongsideTim Lobinger (GER) 2002 | Succeeded by |
