D1 Regionals - Don't let this happen to you

[rainbowgirl28]

I'd like to see them go back to how it originally was... top 5 from each region go, then the next however many from the list. You could NH at regionals and still go to Nationals.

[SlickVT]

As a middle-of-the-pack vaulter that did qualify for NCAAs (top five method), I do not believe that lower vaulters have an advantage in qualifying for nationals. Vaulters with a higher season PR or average PR have a much better chance of qualifying out of the pool if they have a sub-par day, and for an 18-foot vaulter, that means just making your opening height... usually.

Everyone is presented with equal conditions and warmup time at regionals, which means that the 4.91m opening height should be no problem for a better vaulter and harder for a lower vaulter. If anything, it is tougher for lower vaulters to qualify for NCAAs, as is similar with the old system.

That being said, I think it is tishy that this plotting and planning to get unqualified vaulters into the meet is wrong. It just goes to show that if you don't get the job done, you can still get in.

Maybe a simple rule that no athletes can move to a qualifying position if others don't declare... it would just shorten the pool.

Bing

[vault3rb0y]

I'd like to see them go back to how it originally was... top 5 from each region go, then the next however many from the list. You could NH at regionals and still go to Nationals.

I'm new to this, but what stops the top 5 athletes in the region from not going to regionals since they already have their bid then? Are we looking for incentive for EVERYONE to do well at regionals or just those not in the top 5?

[Vault&Flip]

I'd like to see them go back to how it originally was... top 5 from each region go, then the next however many from the list. You could NH at regionals and still go to Nationals.

I'm new to this, but what stops the top 5 athletes in the region from not going to regionals since they already have their bid then? Are we looking for incentive for EVERYONE to do well at regionals or just those not in the top 5?

Top 5 finishers AT regionals automatically go to nationals...it doesn't matter what your mark is coming in to the regional meet...if you don't finish in the top 5 you aren't an automatic qualifier.

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Sports/228625/

Stripling’s effort answers criticism
BY MARTY COOK
Posted on Saturday, June 14, 2008
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DES MOINES, Iowa - Katie Stripling might have entered through the back door, but she's strolling out the front.

Stripling finished third in the pole vault at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Friday at Drake Stadium.

The six points Stripling earned are the only ones the Lady Razorbacks have at nationals. Arkansas senior Dacia Barr is the Lady Razorbacks' remaining competitor, running the 1, 500-meter final this afternoon. Barr was fifth a year ago.

Stripling was subject to some criticism after she gained entry into the meet because Arkansas assistant Bryan Compton took advantage of a little-used rule. Stripling had finished 13 th at the Mideast Regional, apparently eliminating her from consideration for the national meet.

Compton found that if he withdrew a Lady Razorback who had finished in the top 12, Stripling would move up in the standings and qualify. Stripling had cleared 14 feet, 2 inches this year, which was tied for the second-best mark in the nation.

"They were pretty angry,"Stripling said, referring to some posts on the Web site PoleVaultPower. com. "It gave me more determination and motivation to prove people wrong. I used it to help me."

Stripling said several pole vault competitors shunned her at the meet, although she said it could be because they didn't know her.

"A couple of the girls wouldn't talk to me,"Stripling said.

Compton said Stripling's performance should stop the complaining. He said those upset with his use of the rules were just mad because they didn't use the same rules to their advantage.

"She shut the critics up on the pole vaulting Web sites and blogs,"Compton said. "They don't understand the rules. If they knew them, they would have used them, too."Stripling showed her ability at nationals, clearing all four heights flawlessly in qualifying and up to 1 13-5 / 4 in the final. She missed her

1 first attempt at 13-9 / 4 before clearing it. She missed all three attempts at

1 14-1 / 4 and her earlier miss put her in third. If she hadn't missed that attempt, she would have been in a jump-off against eventual champion Katie Morgan of California. "I wanted All-American,"Stripling said. "Once I knew I had All-American, I relaxed and wanted to see what place I could get."

The success should help Stripling's confidence, which hit bottom after her debacle at regionals. Stripling only began pole vaulting late in her senior year at Jonesboro, and then only as a lark.

"I do realize I am actually good,"Stripling said. "The selfdoubt got to me at regionals. I kept telling myself I'm good to begin with."

Arkansas Coach Lance Harter said Stripling is bubbling with talent but just has to learn to use it and trust her skill. He said he hopes the national success is the first step to her emergence as a superstar in the sport.

"Once she truly figures out how to vault, [Compton ] feels she can be just dominant,"Harter said. "She's really a novice."

Stripling said if someone had told her before the year she would be third at outdoors, she wouldn't have believed it. This season, Stripling has won conference indoors and outdoors, the first Lady Razorback to win both, let alone in the same year.

"I wouldn't have thought it would happen,"Stripling said. "It has happened so fast. It's overwhelming, but it's exciting. I want to see how high I can go."

She's already high enough to look down on her critics.

[utVOLter]

Seems like the dominant theme is that most people dislike the regional system. I'm not a fan either, and I'm not sure that I can add much to the topic.... but as for "plotting and planning".... the coaches aren't the only ones doing it....

I'm almost ashamed to tell this story.... but I owe my trip to NCAA outdoor last year to Brad Gebauer... I had a horrible regional meet last year (5.05 clearance) and was in 5th. Brad was in 6th and had one more attempt at 5.20... We knew each other from previous competitions and Brad knew he was already qualified for NCAA because he was definately going to finish in the top 12 and he had a 5.60 clearance earlier in the outdoor season.

So, instead of beating me and putting me on the bubble in the at large pool with my 5.30 clearance (which would have gotten in, but we didn't know that at the time). I told him I would buy him a beverage of his choice if he'd run through.

Everyone was struggling at that meet, we had some light rain and some swirly wind, and it has never been confirmed that Brad ran through on purpose, but it makes for an interesting confession as it pertains to this topic....Is that what the NCAA was shooting for with the regional qualifying system? And does it make it any more acceptable that I finished 7th at the NCAA championships?

I'm going to say that regardless of my finish at nationals (or Katie's, who no one doubts is a great vaulter) there is an obvious flaw in any qualifying system that has room for scheming. I think that despite the fact that she and I both "proved" that we deserved to be there by finishing as All-Americas, the way we got there is questionable and probably not completely fair to everyone else. On the other hand.... you gotta play to win right?

As for the article.... I'm not suprised to see that it came from a Northwest Arkansas newspaper..... I know that Katie personally didn't have anything to do with writing it, but I think it is slightly low class to rub your success in the faces of people who were only disappointed that their daughter didn't get the same opportunity to compete. I don't see any place where anyone criticizes Katie herself....The purpose of this thread I think was to vent some frustration about the regional system....

[rainbowgirl28]

Yeah, definitely no one here holds it against Katie or anyone of the other athletes.

It's very legit to discuss the merits of a system that creates the potential for coaches to be calling other coaches and trying to get them to scratch their kids.

[Bubba PV]

Different deal but similar result. During the 1960 Olympics, Ron Morris didn’t make the final, only to be admitted when the rule pointed out that there had to be at least 12 in the final. He “shouldn’t have been thereâ€

[yahooly]

Personally I disagree with the top 12 declared finishers if the true purpose is to determine that the athletes are in good condition to compete it should be top 12 period. Otherwise just change the rule back to what it was where the top 5 go and everything else is at large. Although one possibly two of my team mates got their hopes of going to nationals crushed by this rule I hold no grudges against people using the rules to their advantage. I just believe it should be changed to reduce controversy in the future.