SLIPPERY ROCK — Mark Hannay didn't think he would he would be able to attend this year's National Pole Vault Summit in Reno, Nev.

As it turned out, that would have been a big mistake.

Hannay, the pole vault, javelin and high jump coach at Slippery Rock University, knew some of his athletes would be competing in the indoor NCAA Division II national championship and couldn't quite make the commitment.

Little did he know he was going to receive the National Pole Vault Honoree of the Year for Pole Vault Education and Development, which is named by USA Track & Field's National Pole Vault Committee and by USA Track & Field.

"I told them I may not come this year," said Hannay, of Mercer. "They said, 'Well, we've got a problem. First of all, we have a couple of USA Track & Field meetings for the funding for your library, and, we weren't going to tell you this, you're the honoree of the year.'"

Hannay, a national development committee member since 1988, is chairman of the Pole Vault Education Initiative, which includes a comprehensive pole vault library that began in 2002 following the deaths of three pole vaulters, including Kevin Dare of Penn State and two high schoolers.

"There was a big move in the United Sates to make pole vaulting safer," said Hannay. "One of the recommendations was to wear a helmet."

Hannay, however, doesn't believe the helmet is the solution. He's not in favor of a helmet rule but believes vaulters should be equipped with the knowledge of vaulting.

"How do you get the information out?" asked Hannay. "I've held 53 one-week camps at SRU and there has not be a single major injury, and that's around 6,000 athletes.

"Those stats are not just for me, but any reputable camp. There's been no serious injuries. Why is that? Because they're educated on pole vaulting," he added.

The online library (www.pvei.com), the first of its kind in sports, provides accurate and current information for beginners, intermediate and elite American coaches and vaulters representing the United States and Olympic level competition, as well as local meets.

Information available includes nutrition, technique, sports psychology, training, equipment and motor skill drills.

"The library had definitive, correct information," said Hannay. "There's no hearsay."

In the first 34 months the site has been up and running, there have been an average of 137,000 hits per month as well as an average of 30,000 page views per month.

Hannay spends about 10 hours a week on the website, which includes many of his articles.

"I write all the time and I'm currently working on a book on track and field," said Hannay. "I'm one of the editors (of the site), but we have two to three others who screen for accuracy."

Hannay has gotten nothing but positive feedback about the site.

"It's been unbelievable. I've had e-mails and phone calls," said Hannay. "The national coach of pole vaulting for Germany, Herbert Chezeng, says it's one of the best teaching tools he's seen."

With the library in place, Hannay is looking at four more phases to continue education initiative.

Phase 2 will be a suggested-required reading list of major concepts for college vaulting coaches.

Phase 3 will be the development of a packaged college-level course to be taught in at least one college or university in each state. Phase 4 and 5 will be a nationally web-televised course. The target dates for the final four phases are 2007-08.

Hannay definitely has a history of success in pole vaulting, having coached 21 NCAAall-Americans in 18 years at The Rock, as well as two national champions in the javelin and one U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier.

Hannay graduated from Kent State University and received a master's degree from Youngstown State. He coached at Mercer High School for nine years, compiled a 146-6 record and earned seven coach of the year honors.