UO New Record Setter

OLIVET, Mich. — It didn't take long for the two-time All-American to make history at The University of Olivet. In the Chippewa Invitational on Feb. 7 jumped 4.75m / 15'7" , a sophomore transfer, Alex Brown has already shattered pole vaulting school record of Denver Orlando of 4.34m / 14'2.75" in 2021. 

Brown, who transferred from Lansing Community College, said breaking the record was a goal from the moment he stepped on campus.

“Getting the school record was a goal since the day I took my visit here,” Brown said. “I don’t just want to stop at one record, I want to break it over and over again.”

Brown said his development since coming to Olivet has changed from the approach to his training. 

“I would say the training has been less intense, but more intentional,” Brown said. “Here at Olivet the coaching staff really knows what they’re doing and trains athletes differently according to their specific event.”

The focus he has is what Olivet's coaching staff saw in him early in his recruitment. 

“We had been following Alex's pole vaulting for a few years,” head coach Karen Lutzke said. “We felt like he would be a great fit for our program.”

Brown also works closely with assistant coach of jumps and pole vault Gabby Jolliff, who made her own mark in Olivet history as the record holder currently for Olivet pole vault. Jolliff said Brown’s composure separates him from others.

“Alex is very calm and collected when he is on the runway whether it is at practice or competition,” assistant coach of jumps and pole vault, Gabby Jolliff said. 

As a pole vaulter, self control really matters. Brown stated when his event doesn’t go as planned, he keeps his approach simple. 

“If something isn’t going as planned I just trust what the coach’s feedback is at the time, and what I could do better,” Brown said. “Then just try to do those things on the next jump.”

Even though he has broken records, his main focus hasn’t shifted. 

“It’s more just me trying to do the best I can each day,” Brown said. 

The next meet is on Saturday, Feb. 27-28 at the MIAA Indoor Championships (Trine, Ind.) at 4 p.m.