“Those that master the sport of pole vaulting gain the confidence to tackle and accomplish anything in their lives,” explained Jacob Sanders, founder, and owner of the concept
A Maryland-based concept which trains area youngsters in the sport of pole vaulting, has jumped to an expanded location within the Sulphur Spring Business Park in Halethorpe, Maryland. According to founder and owner Jacob Sanders, Sandstorm Vault has signed a lease with Hill Management Services, Inc. for 3,600 square feet of space, and recently relocated its operations to 1640 Sulphur Spring Road from an outdoor venue near BWI Airport. Andrew Beyrodt, Leasing Representative with Hill Management Services represented the landlord in this transaction.
Sandstorm Vault, founded by Sanders in 2018, has become a key player in Maryland’s pole-vaulting community. With over 500 student-athletes competing in the sport across the state, Sanders estimates that his program works with about 100 participants, including 30 regulars. The concept doesn’t just cater to young athletes but also extends its training to collegiate athletes and, in some cases, adults who “are brave enough to try and keep up with the youth.” This broad approach helps create a diverse and inclusive environment for pole vault enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels.
“It takes a certain amount of courage to sprint down a track at full speed while carrying a 15-foot-long pole and preparing to be launched into the air,” explained Sanders. “Of course, next comes the tricky part of navigating yourself over the bar and the thrilling sensation of skydiving onto the landing pads. For those that master this sport comes the confidence to tackle and accomplish seemingly anything in their lives,” he added.
Pole vault image credit: Sandstorm Vault
Making a mark at the high school level
Following a high school sprinting career, in addition to participating briefly in college, Sanders entered the world of pole vault while coaching it as one of 16 different events of track and field at Westminster High School. Surprisingly, the vault squad found immediate competitive success, despite Sanders’ relative lack of experience, which led to a pole vault coaching position at York College in Pennsylvania. Several achievements followed for the team, including placing seven different men into the top eight finishers in the conference’s final pole vault standings within the same year, accounting for York College’s most dominant pole vault performance in school history.
“Parents started asking me to provide private training for their kids, and a few adults showed interest in continuing after college,” Sanders explained. Recognizing a need, he launched his business to fulfill it. The enterprise includes Pole Vault Mall, an e-commerce business specializing in the sale of pole vault equipment and supplies which is also be housed in Sulphur Spring Business Park.
Sanders says that he teaches coordination skills, force generation and proper technique and counters the misconception that pole vaulting is not for everyone. “Absent a debilitating back, hip or shoulder condition, pole vaulting can be attempted and mastered by people of all ages. It is certainly not easy to start, but once beginners rise into the air for a few feet they get hooked, and the sport is a great way to get into shape,” he said. “It is very punishing at the outset and then extremely gratifying when you master the technique.”
Pole-vaulting is ideal for video-obsessed audiences
Sanders has coached 19 Maryland state pole vaulting champions and sent “a couple dozen athletes” to compete at the collegiate level. The exposure of this summer’s Olympic games spiked interest, but he says the sport has been growing steadily over the past couple of decades. “Pole vaulting is made for social media,” he says with 10-second videos regularly attracting high traffic, including some Sandstorm Vault-produced videos that have generated millions of views.
After touring “hundreds of locations,” Sanders found the perfect site at Sulphur Spring Business Park given the 20-foot ceilings and a small bay that allows for two 20-foot by 120-foot set-ups. “The location off Interstate 95 will also allow me to draw athletes from a larger radius including areas near Washington, D.C. It also helps that I grew up just down the street,” he said.
Sulphur Spring Business Park is a three-building business community comprised of nearly 170,000 square feet of commercial office, warehouse, and industrial space. Featuring 18- to 21-foot ceiling heights, the park is situated at the intersection of Sulphur Spring Road and Old Georgetown Road, features roadside visibility from Interstate 95 and is approximately 10 miles from BWI Airport.
Reigniting interest among Baltimore City students
Sanders further explains that he has been working with Dunbar High School coach Dale Stalley to help bring the sport back to Baltimore City, after not fielding it for decades due to lack of funding and coaching resources allocated to it. “Coach Stalley recognized that pole vaulting was offered throughout the country but not in Baltimore City, so we have been partnering with him to offer advice and provide discounts on pole vault equipment,” Sanders said. “It is now part of the event schedule Baltimore City Public School track and field meets, and we are now training some athletes.
For more information, visit www.sandstormvault.com
“Jacob Sanders is a true entrepreneur and his highly-unique concept demonstrates the extreme flexibility of our warehouse and industrial product,” stated Danielle Beyrodt, Vice President, and Chief Operating Officer of Hill Management Services. “We are extremely impressed with his passionate commitment to growing the sport of pole vaulting in the Maryland area, and would not be surprised to see the expansion of this space in the future.”
Founded in 1976, Hill Management Services, Inc. is a privately-owned, full-service real estate development company. Located in Timonium, Maryland, Hill Management owns more than four million square feet of office, industrial and retail space as well as several hotel and self-storage facilities. Hill Management Services seeks to provide long-term investments, exceptional customer service, and develop long-lasting tenant-landlord relationships. For more information visit www.hillmgt.com
