Regionals Blows

[Cpvault]

Any male vaulter who jumps less than 17'6" should not have a chance to make NCAA Division 1 nationals. The Regional qualifying system will not work.

[jomrus]

Why do you say that? Look at the pros... if they don't make it through the preliminary rounds of competition, then they don't go to the Olympics. Why should it be any different for the college athlete. One big mark don't mean shnickety. You know that.

[vaultfan]

Hope I’m not straying too far away from this regional competition topic, but I think there are advantages in dividing a LARGE vaulting competition into two groups. Having lower seeded vaulters compete in one group and the higher seeded vaulters compete in another group makes for more interesting competitions. Also, it helps avoid the situation where better vaulters take warmups of an hour or so and then have to wait two or three hours before they enter the competition.

Anyway, I would be interested in your thoughts regarding “group A and group Bâ€Â

[vaultguru6]

I agree with Jomrus. If someone has 1 big mark during the season and nothing even close, it should not give them an automatic spot at nationals. The regional system will make it so either the top consistent vaulters will go to nationals, or the on the day vaulters that bust out big when it counts. This way Texans with 30 mph tailwind for every other meet don't have an advantage over us northerners. Anyway, it just makes the season that much more intense.

[rainbowgirl28]

[quote="vaultfan"]Hope I’m not straying too far away from this regional competition topic, but I think there are advantages in dividing a LARGE vaulting competition into two groups. Having lower seeded vaulters compete in one group and the higher seeded vaulters compete in another group makes for more interesting competitions. Also, it helps avoid the situation where better vaulters take warmups of an hour or so and then have to wait two or three hours before they enter the competition.

Anyway, I would be interested in your thoughts regarding “group A and group Bâ€Â

[tandf22]

Are any of you actually familar with how the system works, the regional meet takes everyone over the qualifying mark, the top 4 i believe go on to the national meet from each region, then the top 10 marks out of the people who didnt qualify from regionals go to the meet, however you have to "give an honest effort" at the regional meet to be able to go to NCAA's

[vaultin chris]

actually it is the top 5 individuals and top 3 relays.
also there is an at large system, but im not sure if the set # is 10 i think it is at the discretion of the NCAA.

[SkyHigh21]

I just love the way people say that guys are capable of jumping a certain height. Everyone is capable, not everyone can do it. DOnt worry about the number of compedators, just jump your bars and compete. If you waste your time whining about the numbers and how much you like or dislike regionals you'll become fixated upon it and then YOU wont do well.

[vaultin chris]

yea just jump as high as u can

[Cpvault]

The problem I have with the whole system, is the fact that really good vaulters (who have jumped well throughout the year) may not make nationals. Of course, you have those 2 or 3 guys who popped one big mark during the year, but weren't consistent. Do they belong? Probably not. But, it's a bigger problem when you have 2 or 3 guys who jumped very well throughout the year, and then have one bad meet. The fact is, when you expand the field (lowering qualifying heights, i.e., regionals); a competition is more apt to be diluted. As soon as, NCAA's doesn't have one person there who deserves it; the competition has compromised its elite quality. That would be bad for the sport.

[PVJunkie]

Does the best person win the Olympic games, World Champs, NCAA, Nat Scholastic, Mt Sac, Drake.............well you get the picture. Its all about getting there and then doing the best you can. Traditionally at the biggest event in track every 4 yrs, the Olympic games, the best vaulter for that year does not win the gold (heck most of the time he did not even medal). Should we have a system similar to tennis???????? A TEAM championship and and individual championship?? The team qualifying the way it is now and the individual the way it used to be. That was the problem, the NCAA team champ was being won with only 3-5 great althletes not a great team.

[smokinvaulter1]

exactly what I was saying. what the use of any other big meets when one can make you or break you.