This week I had the pleasure to speak with Anicka Newell. She is a Highland High School graduate, with a state championship in the pole vault in 2009. She went on to have a great collegiate career at Texas State University winning two outdoor Sun Belt Conference pole vault championships. She has since competed professionally and has represented Canada in two Olympic games in 2016 and 2021. She is currently preparing for the Canadian Olympic Trials June 26th-30th.

We talked about her time at Highland in Albuquerque and the coaches that influenced her. She talks about her preparations and teaches me a lot about pole vault in the process, including the joys of traveling with a 15 foot bag of poles.

She talks about coaching younger athletes and how that has influenced her own preparation. We also talk about the newly announced Grand Slam Track and the exclusion of field events. She also talks about how tough it is being an un-sponsored athlete and how a league like what is proposed could help athletes like her.

It was a really fun conversation and I learned a lot about an event that I don't know enough about. She is a wonderful person and I hope you'll join me in cheering her on with her trials and hopefully on to Paris.

I am so happy to be back at the podcast, talking to passionate people and building connections within our sport. We've got a lot of amazing people doing some great things. I hope you enjoy this episode and the little break in the heat we got with the rain. Stay motivated, listen to your body, and keep running, New Mexico.