For the fourth straight year, Pole Vault in the Plaza is back in Naples, turning the streets of Mercato into a high-flying spectacle.
"It's a pretty cool experience to be able to be out here for the first time," said pole vaulter Natalie Lark, travelling from Louisville to compete.
Once a unique spin on the sport, it is now becoming a summer tradition. Athletes from all across the country are jumping at the chance to participate. Some are even coming back several years in a row.
"All my teammates come," said Elizabeth Dowdy of Tallahassee, in her third year competing at Pole Vault in the Plaza. "The environment is really fun to jump in. It's not as serious. It's more like having fun with what you do."
For some, like Dowdy, who is heading to the pole vault at Auburn next year, it's part of college prep. For others, it's a chance to wind down after a long season.
"Kind of nice to not see a track and be able to have this environment," former University of Illinois pole vaulter Tori Thomas said, laughing.
"I think it's just beautiful [here]," Lark said. "We're right by the beach, so the wind's probably going to be pretty good, which means that we can get on big poles and jump high. And that's a dream for a pole vaulter."
Vaulting in the middle of a shopping plaza is a thrill for the athletes, but it's also a chance to introduce the sport to new spectators.
"Whenever people walk by, I will explain to them what the sport is," Dowdy said. "Some of them say like, 'Oh, we'll come back next year and watch it.'"
"It's even more incredible in person than it is watching it on TV, and how high we're actually jumping," Thomas said.
The elite athletes took over Strada Place on day one of the event. Amateurs will take the stage on Saturday, June 7, for day two.
"The vibes are always high, and it's a fun place to be," Lark said.
Saturday's event runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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