University of Georgia track and field team pole vaulter Alon Rogow stands on the UGA Spec Towns Track on April 23. Rogow’s passion for pole vaulting began in middle school when he attended camps at Pole Vault Atlanta, a pole vault training club. “I thought (pole vaulting) looked cool and I wanted to try it, so I did. Going into eighth grade, I went to a couple camps at Pole Vault Atlanta, and then I improved (and) quickly fell in love with the sport, and the rest is history,” Rogow said. Photo by Iliana Tejada
University of Georgia track and field team pole vaulter Alon Rogow discusses his passion for pole vaulting and serving the Athens and UGA community.
Diversity and Representation Editor Samaya Ellis: What drew you to pole vaulting, and when did you start?
University of Georgia track and field team pole vaulter Alon Rogow: Long story short, I thought (pole vaulting) looked cool and I wanted to try it, so I did. (I talked to) my eighth-grade social studies teacher (Matt Barry at the Davis Academy), as well as the coach at (Pole Vault Atlanta). There were a couple kids in grades above me that were nationally ranked, and (pole vaulting) looked really cool. So, I asked him to coach me. (We) didn’t really get around to (working together) until the summer, where I went to a couple camps at Pole Vault Atlanta, and then I improved, quickly fell in love with the sport, and the rest is history.
SE: Pole vaulting is a blend of mental and physical toughness. What goes through your head as you’re performing this sport?
AR: The main thought that goes through my head when I’m running down the runway is, “Just go for it,” and (I) try to simplify (the sport) as much as (I) can (and) try not to think. There’s a saying in pole vaulting that, “90% of pole vaults are mental.” It’s a very physical sport, but once you get to a certain level, it’s almost completely (a) mental (game). You have to have full confidence, (and) you have to go into every jump knowing that it’s going to be successful. Even if there is a little bit of fear, you have to do it scared.
“I have very high expectations of myself, and I expect to do better than I have. I feel like I’ve fallen short in many areas, but it’s taught me a lot.”
SE: What does a typical pole vaulting training session look like during the off-season and regular season?
AR: In (the off-season), it’s a lot more conditioning: heavy lifting in the weight room, a lot of running, a lot of bounding sand circuits, just trying to get as athletic as you possibly can. Once (the pole vaulters) get into (the) season, we’ll (pull) back in the approach. We’ll have a couple full practices (where) the conditioning is still there, but it’s a little lighter so we can be fresh for competitions. (The) weight lifting turns over from heavy lifting to a little bit of lighter weight, so you can work on your explosiveness and feel that pop on the runway.
University of Georgia track and field team pole vaulter Alon Rogow runs with a vaulting pole on the UGA Spec Towns Track on April 23. Rogow, a UGA graduate student, has dedicated his time toward the balance of multiple roles as an athlete, student and leader in the UGA community. “The thing that’s helped me the most in that (pole vaulting) field is just seeing the change I offer (through leadership),” Rogow said. “I am very driven in athletics. I want to be the best pole vaulter in the world. That is the goal. However, academics are also very important. I work just as hard in the classroom as I do on the track.” Photo by Iliana Tejada
SE: You were the 2025-26 Joel Eaves Scholar Athlete award-winner, an award presented to seniors with the highest GPAs. How have you maintained your academic drive while also pole vaulting?
AR: Growing up, I was taught to be very academically focused, so that’s where my headspace has been (for) forever. I am very driven in athletics, (and) I want to be the best pole vaulter in the world. That is the goal. However, academics are also very important. I’m not going to be a pole vaulter forever, so I will need to have a career lined up afterwards. Academics have always been a very important piece of that to me, so I work just as hard in the classroom as I do on the track.
SE: You earned a Bachelor of Sports Management at UGA, and you’re currently working to get a Master of Science in Kinesiology. What are your post-graduation plans?
AR: Ideally, I want to pole vault as long as I can. If I (could) have a professional career, post-collegiate, that would be ideal. Realistically speaking, (I’ll) most likely have to have a job while I train, (but) I’m not entirely sure what that job is. I had an internship at the Atlanta Track Club this past summer, and I loved it. I’ve considered going back (and) asking them for a position.
SE: On a personal level, how have you evaluated your growth during your career?
AR: My collegiate career has been underwhelming. I have very high expectations of myself, and I expect to do better than I have. I feel like I’ve fallen short in many areas, but it’s taught me a lot. There’s been a lot of lessons (I have) learned. It’s made me tougher, mentally (and) physically. This year feels different than previous years, where I feel more prepared. Everything feels like it’s starting to fall into place. My coaches always say, “It’s not on your time, it’ll happen when it’s meant to happen,” and I think it’s starting to fall (into place this) time.
