Dimensions
Box length (back to front): 1 m / 39 in. Width: 60 cm / 24 in. Depth at back: 20 cm / 8 in. Front opening: flush with runway surface. Slope angle: 105 degrees from the runway surface.
The box in pole vault is a rectangular metal-lined depression at the end of the runway where the pole tip plants at takeoff. Per IAAF specifications, the box is 1 m (39 in) long at the back, 60 cm (24 in) wide, and angled at 105 degrees from the ground. The back wall is vertical, lined with steel, and absorbs the impact of the pole tip when the vaulter plants.
Box length (back to front): 1 m / 39 in. Width: 60 cm / 24 in. Depth at back: 20 cm / 8 in. Front opening: flush with runway surface. Slope angle: 105 degrees from the runway surface.
Galvanized steel or aluminum lining inside a concrete-walled depression. The steel back-wall takes the impact of the pole tip and must be flush against the surrounding runway. Box collar height: 20 cm at the back of the box.
The 105-degree angled back wall is engineered to capture and redirect the pole tip into vertical rotation at takeoff. A box that is too shallow lets the pole slip; too deep, and the pole catches awkwardly.
The pole tip must strike the back wall of the box at the right angle to translate horizontal velocity into vertical rotation. AI form check measures pole-plant angle and pole tip position relative to the box.
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