Duane Telliano has devoted four decades of service to L.A. area pole vaulters.

Joel Flores coaches both athletes and pole vault coaches in the State of Hawaii.

In early January, Coaches Flores and Telliano will fly, courtesy of On Track, to the Pole Vault Summit in Reno, Nevada, where they will be presented to their fellow coaches during the North American Pole Vault Association’s (NAPVA) Hall of Fame dinner. Their accommodations and clinic participation will be underwritten by On Track and Summit organizers UCS/Spirit and the NAPVA.

“We had such a great field of nominees this year, our selection committee just couldn’t choose between our top candidates, so we’re bringing them both to Reno,” announced Ron Morris, On Track CEO.

Coach Flores has coached high school track and field since 1983. As a pole vault specialist, he has devoted countless hours in service as Hawaii’s Chairman for USATF Pole Vault Development and Education, certifying the state’s vault coaches.

When he isn’t out on the field, Coach Flores works as a bus operator for the City and County of Honolulu. He is also the vice–president of Speed Chains LLC, a line of conditioning equipment new to the On Track catalog (see page A). With whatever free time remains, Coach Joel enjoys spending it with his wife, Neriza and their children Kenneth and Kristina. Coach Telliano’s is a familiar face around the Southern California track and field scene, having coached boys’ and girls’ track some 39 years, all at Roosevelt High School. With a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Los Angeles, and a master’s degree in Education from Cal Lutheran University, Coach Telliano built a firm foundation as a physical education instructor with the L.A. Unified School District. Now retired, he continues to run the LAUSD Summer Track and Field Meet program.

In addition to his coaching and teaching assignments, Coach Telliano has officiated many AAU and USATF events, and is a valued member of the coaching staff at the annual Mount San Antonio College (“Mt. SAC”) International Pole Vault Camp. Says Camp Director Brian Yokoyama (who nominated the coach for this year’s Summit–ship): “He is a humble man who never speaks about himself. He lives to help others learn and improve in the pole vault, and he never misses the opportunity to learn more at a track and field coaching clinic.”