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John finally got his Official 4.00m jump to set the 60 -64 year old world record at the Hayward Classic this past Sunday May 13.

John had cleared 4.00m - 13'`1 1/2" last summer at an All Comers meet at Hayward field, but there were not the requisite 3 certified Officials to have the jump qualify as a world record. It was great to watch John get his record ( it appeared that this meet had the correct officials for this to be an official world record).

By the way he put some air on this jump so I am sure he will continue to raise his record through out the summer.

Way to Go John.

Vault On

Wow! That's high!

Congrats, John.

Yeah man, congrats.

vaultwest wrote:John finally got his Official 4.00m jump to set the 60 -64 year old world record at the Hayward Classic this past Sunday May 13.

Vault On

Thanks Dan. As always I appreciate everything you do to help my vaulting, especially the coaching during competition.

Yesterday I started out rather poorly requiring 3 attempts at each of my first two heights (3.70 & 3.80). My right quad was acting up and I decided I should save the jumps I might have left in me for what I really wanted. So I passed at 3.90. Then they measured the bar at 4.00m for me and I was able to get off a good jump on my first attempt and made the height. Having achieved my major goal, and since I didn't want to further my leg injury/soreness, I then dropped out of the competition.

Keegan Burnett has been on my mind these past two weeks, especially with all the pole vault activity this time of year; coaching; officiating and jumping. This one's for Keegan. I hope some of my good fortune will rub off on him and he will continue his recovery.

This links to video of the jump. Here is a Windows Media Version also.

- master

Wow, you made that look easy.

Great jump and great job, John!!

master wrote:This links to video of the jump.

- master

Some people have had trouble with that video link. Here is a Windows Media Player version.

Thanks for everyone's comments.

- master

I just noticed that you live in Oregon. My girlfriend lives around McMinnville or something like that.

Siros wrote:I just noticed that you live in Oregon. My girlfriend lives around McMinnville or something like that.

I live about 45 miles directly south of McMinnville.

- master

CONGRATS John!!! Now that the pesky 4m is out of the way you can really start jumping to your potential.

As a coach with a pretty good eye for technical detail, I think a lot of the credit for your most recent success MUST go to the new red helmet!! LOL!! Way to go Dude!! You're an awesome vaulter, person and friend!! Bubba

Congrats John, sorry I couldn't make it out there this year!

Bubba PV wrote:As a coach with a pretty good eye for technical detail, I think a lot of the credit for your most recent success MUST go to the new red helmet!! LOL!!

Thanks Bubba. You do have a great eye for technical detail. However, I must tell you, the camera sometimes lies a little. The helmet is actually a deep metallic orange! My camera might have trouble replicating the true color.

Just for the record, I replaced my white helmet because the autographs on it were starting to fade and I want to keep it, in readable condition, as a souvenir. In Februrary, on Ken Stone's masterstrack.com blog I wrote:

That helmet is pretty special to me. In Jan of 2006 at the Summit, I had many of the greats of pole vaulting autograph it. There is some real Zen pole vault power in it. I'm torn between putting it on a shelf to preserve it, or wearing it and trying to "do them proud".

Check out this list:
Russ Buller
Jeff Hartwig
Nick Hysong
Tim Mack
Bubba McClean
Justin Norberg
Tommy Skipper
Toby Stevenson

Stacy Dragila
Dana Ellis Buller
Amy Linnen
Jillian Schwartz
April Steiner
Jennifer Stuczynski
Kellie Suttle
(and two others I haven't confidently deciphered)