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what size school. cuz i got 4th in 3a and the top 3 were seniors.

You might be referring to Region 3 5A which includes the Houston area 5A schools. There were 4 vaulters over 16' and many close jumps at 16'06". I agree with ESSX, Texas UIL needs to look at how they qualify people for the state meet. The top 2 ranked 5A vaulters will be absent from the state meet. This is very unfortunate and happens in all other track and field events too. If anyone can persuade the UIL to come up with a solution, please voice your concern.

All that aside, it was a great competition and congrats to Maston and Travis.

Results:

1. Maston Wallace-- JR.---Clear Brook---16'00"
2. Travis Mathews-- JR.---Magnolia-------16'00" J
3. Alex Bently-------SR.---Tomball--------16'00" J
4. Will Paine---------SR.---Memorial-------16'00" J
5. Austin Mathews---JR.---Magnolia-------14'06"
6. David McKenzie--SO.---Katy Taylor----14'00

Just found these results from Region 1 - 5A in Lubbock:

1. Derek Solarski, Amarillo, 15-6
2. Jordan Johnson, Keller, 15-0
3. Kenny Greaves, Coppell, 14-6
4. Austin Hogue, Arlington Lamar, 14-6
5. (tie) Joel Rivera, El Paso Hanks; Kyle Ketchersid, Mansfield; Jimmy Thompson, Plano East; and Dustin Warren, Odessa, 14-0

there needs to be a qualifing height like they have in college as well as letting the top two go to state.

Wow! That's hard to swallow. Arkansas has a qualifying standard for each event, regardless of whether or not you compete in your district meet. Of course, you can advance through your district meet by placing in the top 2-4 depending on classification.

Each classification's qualifying standard is different and is based on the average 3rd place from the previous five years. We have a "Meet of Champions" the week after our state meets, which is comprised of the five state champs (1A-5A) and the 3 next best performances turned in from the state meets (to achieve a field of 8). The only problem with that is you end up with a 1A champ who won their meet with 10'06" and several others that jumped 14' or higher that don't get to compete.

I guess there's really no perfect solution.

Texasvaulter07,

I agree. A qualifying height and/or 1st and 2nd in Region sounds like a great idea. I have heard that many high school track coaches have mentioned this only to have it fall on deaf ears.

AVC Coach,

Sounds like Arkansas is way ahead of Texas in how the athletes advance to state. They seem to really have looked at whats best for the athletes and really getting the best ones to state. You are correct, there is no perfect solution. But it sounds like you have a very fair system.

Michigan holds similar qualifying standards. Top 2 at each regional advance, along with anyone clearing the qualifying mark. Its worked out well. The only one who can knock you out of qualifying is you. However, Texas is a much better vaulting state then Michigan, so they may do that to keep the numbers down. Michigan only has, I believe, a 12'9" qualifying mark to go to Division 1 state meet. But I don't see why they couldn't throw up even a 14-15ft qualifier to get your top jumpers in. Especially in a case where 4 jumped 16ft!!

Nice job Texas, keep it up!!

In Washington there is a qualifying standard, but it is tough (average of the 3rd place finish at the state meet the past three years) and you have to achieve it at districts/regionals/whatever your state qualifying meet is. It's a tough standard, but I have seen several athletes make it to state on the standard.

I like having to perform at your qualifying meet. Knocks out kids who jump high early then get injured, or kids who might have popped a big mark under questionable circumstances and are unable to duplicate it.

For WA I'd personally like to see the standard be a bit lower, like the average of the 6th or 8th place finisher at state. If you can jump high enough to score at state at your district meet, I think you deserve to go.