Austin Bahner — Q&A — Post Collegiate T&F and Pan-Am Games
STC Elite team member Austin Bahner is nearing the end of his first post-collegiate season and just got named to Team USA for the Pan Am Games in Toronto, Canada, July 20-26.
We got Austin’s opinion on several topics with this Q&A. Enjoy!
How has your first year of post collegiate track gone?
Overall, I am very pleased with how my first has gone. As always, there are ups and there are downs, especially dealing with the Multi-events. My biggest issue in the past has probably been injuries, and I have stayed relatively healthy and in shape the entire season. Other than that, I have been quite consistent in most area’s of the multi, while I have gained a couple of personal bests. I finished second at USA Indoor Nationals and qualified for two USA Teams in the outdoor season which is a huge confidence boost going into next year.
What have been some of the biggest challenges?
The biggest challenge I have faced would have to be the motivation. At this time of the season, I have been on my own the majority of the time so it is important that I stay motivated to keep up my training and continue to work toward my goals.
What are your goals for the upcoming Pan Am Games?
I know that there will be a lot of great competitors at this meet so I am going to do my best to stay in reach of the top and take it one event at a time. I am shooting for a great score that will potentially qualify me into the 2016 Olympic Trials.
What are your goals as you look forward to 2016?
The biggest thing for me is staying healthy throughout the season, most importantly the outdoor season. USA Indoor Nationals will be held in Portland, Oregon next year, which athletes will be competing for a spot on the Indoor World Championships team. For the Outdoor season, the Olympic Trials will be held in Eugene, Oregon where athletes will compete for a spot in the Olympics. My ultimate goal is to hit the standard for next year to go to the trials and compete for one of those spots.
What do you do for support to be able to continue to train for your goals?
My biggest support comes from my parents. They have been there for me more than I could have imagined. Outside of them, I have many great support groups. Shocker Track Club has provided help through expenses for gear and some travel. Asics America provided a great donation of gear. I work as a Volunteer Assistant at Wichita State in order to continue my training with the group of multis. I have also reached out to friends and family for small donations for some of my bigger trips that I normally would not be able to afford like this past year’s Indoor Nationals that was held in Boston, MA. I am very appreciative of everyone and everything I have received over this past season.
What advice can you give someone who wants to continue track after college?
My first piece of advice would have to be patience. Not everything is going to go the way you want whether it be injuries, your training, your marks/scores, etc. Its all about overcoming those obstacles and trusting yourself and your training. Also, have some sort of structure or organization to your training. I still follow the team’s workouts with some modifications due to a longer and later season.
Thank you to Austin for the interview. Good luck in Toronto! Go USA!!!
Bahner Finishes Capital Cup Strong
STC Elite Team Member Austin Bahner finished fifth in the IAAF Capital Cup Decathlon in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on Saturday. Banner, a former Wichita State All-American, finished with 7,358 points! Complete results are available here >> Capital Cup Decathlon
Youth Team Hosts Olympian as Guest Teacher
Retired Elite High Jumper and 2000 Olympian, Nathan Leeper, attended Youth Team practice on Tuesday as a “Guest Teacher” in the high jump. Leeper, a NCAA National Champion while competing at Kansas State University, is a four-time USATF National Champion with a career personal best of 2.35m (7′-8 1/2″). He also holds the Wichita State University Cessna Stadium high jump record with a jump of 2.26m (7′-05″).
Hot Vaulting at the River Vault!
The weather was warm, but the southern breeze provided for a great day of pole vaulting at the 2015 River Vault competition! Jack Whitt claimed the Men’s Elite Title with a vault of 18′-7″ (5.66m)! Other champions were – Chris Nilsen (16′-6″) Men’s Open competition, Brittany Kallenberger (13′-6″) Women’s Open competition, Christian Compton of the Shocker Track Club (15′-6″) Youth Boys competition, and Nicole Kallenberger (12′-6″) in the Youth Girls competition.
Many thanks to our event sponsors – ESi Direct, Davis-Moore, Pet Angel, Cameron Dental, Goode Pools, Diamond Archery, AutoImage, our Head Official – Chris Ellis, and the Event Director – Denis Fraizer.
Men’s Elite Results >> 2015 River Vault Men’s Elite
Youth Girl’s Results >> River Vault 2015 Youth Girls Results
Video Overview >> River Vault 2015
Wichita Eagle article >> http://www.kansas.com/sports/article23310600.html
It’s Not Too Late To …. River Vault!
That’s right, it’s not too late to register for River Vault! This exciting pole vault competition will be held on Saturday, June 6th in the Century II parking lot off Main Street. Competition begins at 1000a. Click here for Registration Forms >>>> River Vault 2015 Registration
River Vault Pole Vault Competition!
The 2015 River Vault, Pole Vault, Competition will be held on Saturday, June 6th in the Century II Parking Lot just east of the Bob Brown Expo Hall! This competition will be sanctioned through USA Track & Field and is open to competitors of all ages! Registration is $40 and includes a River Festival button and event t-shirt.
Registration Form >> River Vault 2015 Registration
Sponsorship Guide >> River Vault 2015 Sponsor Guide
Bahner takes 2nd at USA Championships Heptathlon!
STC Elite member Austin Bahner took home 2nd place in the Heptathlon this past weekend at the USA Indoor Championships held at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston, MA.
Bahner’s score of 5526 held off Thomas Hopkins of the Santa Barbara TC who scored 5513. Fellow STC Elite teammate Tobias Boese finished 9th. Here is a link to the results.
“I was extremely happy with the outcome of the meet.” said Bahner. “There were some ups and downs. The first day was pretty average which put me in fourth place going on to day two. I knew I needed a good day and started out with a decent hurdle time. I had a personal best in the Pole Vault of 15-9 which bumped me up to 2nd. My 1000m run was rough but I finished strong and held onto 2nd place overall. Toby was a big help in that finish as he pushed me through. It was a great experience for my first indoor championship and I am honored to finish at the runner-up in a good field of athletes.”
Here are Bahner’s meet performances:
60m – 7.04
Long Jump – 7.12 (23-4.5)
Shot Put – 12.94 (42-5.5)
High Jump – 1.86 (6-1.25)
60h – 8.59
Pole Vault – 4.80m (15-9)
1000m – 2:48.15
Overall – 5526 pts
STC Elite busy at Herm Wilson Invitational, Tuliamuk-Bolton places 2nd in Puerto Rico
Several STC Elite athletes were competing Saturday on the campus of Wichita State University in the Herm Wilson Invitational while Aliphine Tuliamuk-Bolton competed well in Puerto Rico.
Heptathlete Austin Bahner used this meet as preparation for the upcoming USA Indoor Championships and participated in five events running 7.03 in the 60m, 8.63 in the 60m hurdles as well as high jumping 6-2.75, pole vaulting 15-7 and shot putting 41-8.5. Bahner looks poised to have a strong performance in two weeks in Boston.
Tobias Boese completed the entire Heptathlon and put up a season best score of 4847 points to finish 2nd overall.
Sprinters Oliver Bradwell and Josh Manuel both made the 60m finals. Bradwell took 3rd in 6.92 (6.93 prelim) while Manuel was 14th (7.21, 6.98 prelim). STC Open team member Aaron Babbidge placed 9th overall in 7.11.
Distance star Tomas Cotter rabbited two races (800m and 3k) and used this meet as a high quality workout in preparation for the upcoming outdoor season.
Fellow distance star Tuliamuk-Bolton continued her terrific road racing season by placing 2nd in the San Blas Half Marathon with a time of 1:12.51. Her time was only 11 seconds off the previous course record.
Cotter comes out strong, STC Elite notes and quotes for weekend of 1/25/15
STC Elite’s Tomas Cotter picked up two victories in his official 2015 indoor debut Saturday in Lincoln, Nebraska, at the Prairie Wolf Invitational.
Cotter opened up the day with a new personal best of 14:36.21 in the 5000m to win by a margin of 27 seconds. Then he dropped down to win the 800m in 1:55.65.
Cotter said, “I was very happy with both races as I’ve never attempted a rare double like that before and I’ve only had two track workouts since the Intersquad Meet on December 5th. I’m stronger than I’ve ever been and I’m still building towards outdoors!”
Cotter hopes to run a few more indoor races before making a serious run at making the World Outdoor Championships for his country of Ireland in the 3000m steeplechase.
Big win for ATB, STC Elite notes and quotes for weekend of 1/18/15
It was a great weekend for the STC Elite squad, led by a fantastic performance from Aliphine Tuliamuk-Bolton (ATB) who won the Carlsbad Half Marathon with a time of 1:11:48.
Said ATB about the race, “I thought it went well, not a fast time but good enough for a season opener. I battled with the second place girl through 10 miles then gradually increased the pace and dropped her. I went out conservatively because I don’t have turnover yet and didn’t want to struggle at the end. It worked well!”
Three other STC Elites competed Friday in the Shocker Prelude on the campus of Wichita State University.
Austin Bahner had a nice meet in preparation for his season opening Heptathlon in two weeks. Bahner began his day with a time of 8.65 in the 60m hurdle prelims and advanced to the finals. He didn’t run the finals because he was in the middle of the Pole Vault competition where he set a new personal best of 4.76m (15-7.25) where he finished 2nd (lost in a jumpoff).
Said Bahner, “I was extremely happy with the results of my first hurdle race of the season and a new PR in the Pole Vault, especially being this early.”
Tobias Boese matched his training partner’s hurdle time in the prelims of 8.65 and then ran 8.68 in the finals to place 3rd. He also vaulted 4.11m (13-5.75).
From Boese, “It felt great to get competitive. I’m still working out some kinks in the vault but showed some good signs. I was pleased to run a couple hurdle races with consistency, this is the fastest I’ve ever run this early in the season. I can’t wait for the UNI multi in two weeks!”
Oliver Bradwell opened up his season in the 60m where he ran 7.00 in the prelims and 6.94 in the finals to place 4th.