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Jeff jumped 4.12 meters today at The University of Wisconsin to raise the record yet again.

I have a tape of the jump and will hopefully have it up within the week.

YES!!! We've had some emails this week and it was clear that he's ready. GREAT for him!! Bubba

Congratulations Jeff.

- master

He did indeed get the 4.12 clearance (and there was margin in the measurement). He actually took three decent vaults at 4.27 and if the initial height sequence had been followed he might have made 4.20. I had a VERY close view of the vault!

He also helped with the vault officiating (womens prior), as he always does when he has time. And, he had to drive down five hours, including some snow, which is probably not the ideal preparation. I think he has some more in the tank.

Also of note, Matt Novak looked pretty good for a first vault of the season and using a short run-up and almost cleared 5.02/16-5 all three times, as did Derek Theil. Matt might be on his way down to Bell/Arkansas.

Ohhhhhnooooo!

Wolfgang Ritte of Germany went 4.20 over the weekend.

Details on my blog:
http://masterstrack.com/blog/001996.html

Bring it back, Jeff!

ken

26mi235 wrote:He did indeed get the 4.12 clearance (and there was margin in the measurement).....

I'm curious, just what does that mean? 4.12 is 4.12 it should be exact especially when it comes to records.

I heard from a few sources that Ritte was coming to Reno to set the record until the date was changed to be before his birthday on 1/11.

Jeff apparently tried 4.27m at his last meet and he can certainly make it. BTW - I'm pretty sure Ritte has the outdoor record at 4.25m. Bubba

Vaultref wrote:

26mi235 wrote:He did indeed get the 4.12 clearance (and there was margin in the measurement).....

I'm curious, just what does that mean? 4.12 is 4.12 it should be exact especially when it comes to records.

Usually that means there was more than solid contact between the top of the crossbar and the measuring device, so the bar was more like 4.125. It's just one way to keep from being accused by some idiot in the peanut gallery that it was a bogus mark.

And all this time I thought Jeff was a warm-weather vaulter! Maybe there aren't any certified officials at his place in paradise.

Congrats to Jeff. Too bad we missed you in Reno.

They used an electronic measuring device. I took a look at it and if memory serves me right, it read 4.124 meters.

Bubba PV wrote:I heard from a few sources that Ritte was coming to Reno to set the record until the date was changed to be before his birthday on 1/11.

Jeff apparently tried 4.27m at his last meet and he can certainly make it. BTW - I'm pretty sure Ritte has the outdoor record at 4.25m. Bubba

Bubba, does that mean he also competed in an outdoor meet since his birthday?

- master

VaultMarq26 wrote:They used an electronic measuring device. I took a look at it and if memory serves me right, it read 4.124 meters.

Well, that's within spec for a 4.12 jump.
Probably the person doing the electronic measurement did not have the beam at the true bottom the of bar hence the beam might be a little on the curvature of the bar. Again, still within spec, so nice WR jump.

Vaultref wrote:

VaultMarq26 wrote:They used an electronic measuring device. I took a look at it and if memory serves me right, it read 4.124 meters.

Well, that's within spec for a 4.12 jump.
Probably the person doing the electronic measurement did not have the beam at the true bottom the of bar hence the beam might be a little on the curvature of the bar. Again, still within spec, so nice WR jump.

I measured the height with the stick beforehand and set it with a 'safe margin' (i.e., so that it was about 4.125, as speculated above). The laser measure was over 4.12 as well and the beam was moved across a range on the bar to make sure we were getting the minimum height. He went over without touching the bar.

All three vaults at 4.27 would have clear ed4.12 also, and one or two were probably good enough to have made 4.20 if the bar had been set there.

Not only is Jeff more than a warm-weather vaulter, he had to drive 5 hours SOUTH to get to Madison; he lives in northern Wisconsin now. He should be at either or both of the Madison meets (end of Jan, and of Feb) that precede the Big Ten Mens Indoor (and he will probably be there too, as he is an All-Big Ten alum from UW-Madison). Hopefully, he will assist with the vault, he is good at it.