PoleVaultPower.com

As at Jr Nationals Jack was behind to Mike Arnold and had to make third attempts at two heights to win. The meet was delayed due to rain and there was a breezy head wind along with a very wet runway I was told. I am a very proud dad. 25 wins this season. As Steve Chappell told me his season has been unbelievable. I now agree.

Nice job guys!

Congrats

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/h ... RECORD.asp

SAMUELS BREAKS POLE VAULT RECORD
Paul Reid
Monday, August 03, 2009
K'Don Samuels broke the National Junior Record (NJR) in the pole vault for the second time since late April when he cleared 4.85m on Saturday's second day of the 15th Pan-American Junior track and field championships at the Hasely Crawford stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

Samuels won Jamaica's first ever medal in the event at these championships when he took the bronze behind Americans Jack Whitt (5.20m) and Michael Arnold (5.10m).

Samuels first broke Jabari Ennis's record of 4.60m set at the 1999 Pan-Am Juniors in Tampa, Florida, at the Penn Relays in April when he cleared 4.80m on his way to becoming the first Jamaican ever to win the event there.

This was the second NJR set at the meet after Traves Smikle improved on his best throw in the discus throw on Friday's opening day with a mark of 57.18m to surpass the 54.42m he set at the CARIFTA Games in April.

Samuels, who holds the Under-20 record at the CARIFTA Games (4.60m) since he won last year, inexplicably failed to make a mark at this year's meet held in St Lucia.

On Saturday, Samuels opened at 4.30m then passed at 4.40m, cleared 4.50m on his first attempt, passed 4.60m before taking two vaults to clear 4.70m.

The Jamaica College student then passed at both 4.75m and 4.80m before clearing 4.85 on his first try.

Obviously tired from his exertions he attempted to go for a big clearance, passing at 4.90m before three failures at 4.95m.

Event 220 Men Pole Vault
================================================================
World: W 6.14m 7/31/1994 Sergey Bubka, UKR
World Jr: J 5.80m 1989 M. Tarasov/ R. Holzdeppe, RUS
Pan Am Champ: P 5.50m 7/16/1993 Lawrence Johnson, USA, Winnip
2009 Best: * 5.55m Blake Lucas, AUS, Melbourne,
Name Year Team Finals
================================================================
Finals
1 Whitt, Jack 90 USA 5.20m
4.30 4.40 4.50 4.60 4.70 4.75 4.80 4.85 4.90 4.95 5.00 5.05 5.10 5.15 5.20 5.35
P P P P P P P P O P O P XXO P XXO XXX
2 Arnold, Michael 90 USA 5.10m
4.30 4.40 4.50 4.60 4.70 4.75 4.80 4.85 4.90 4.95 5.00 5.05 5.10 5.15 5.20
P P P P P O P P XXO P XXO P O P XXX
3 Samuels, K'Don 90 Jamaica 4.85m
4.30 4.40 4.50 4.60 4.70 4.75 4.80 4.85 4.90 4.95
O P O P XO P P O P XXX
4 DE Oliveira, Dutra Augus 90 Brazil 4.75m
4.30 4.40 4.50 4.60 4.70 4.75 4.80
P P P XO XXO O XXX
5 Britnell, Lane 91 Canada 4.60m
4.30 4.40 4.50 4.60 4.70
P XXO P XO XXX
-- Diaz, David 90 Puerto Rico NH
4.30 4.40 4.50 4.60
P P XP XXP

Men’s Pole Vault

A battle between the two Americans, Jack Whitt (North, Norman, OK) and Mike Arnold (Idaho State, Carson City, NV ’08). Arnold opened at 15-7 and made it on his first attempt. The next height was 16-0.75, at which Whitt opened, making it on his first attempt. Arnold made it on his third attempt. Both passed 16-2.75, with Whitt making the next height, 16-4.75 on his first attempt and Arnold on his third. Both passed at 16-6.75. The bar was then moved up to 6-8.75 at which Arnold, this time, made it on his first attempt and Whitt on his third. Both passed 16-10.75, and the bar was moved to 17-0.75. That’s where Arnold went out and Whitt made it on his third attempt to win the competition. He tried three times at 17-6.5 but did not have a good attempt. K’Don Samuels of Jamaica was third at 15-10.5