Masters Vault Set for 100th Drake Relays

[Bubba PV]

Well, it's official. After six months of back and forth with inside help and influence, the committee has approved the event and final field for a Masters Vault at the 100th Drake Relays. The vault is planned for 3 PM on Thursday, April 23. The field includes Gary Hunter, Paul Babbits, John Altendorf, Trevor Richards, Jeff Kingstad, Bill Halverson, Bubba Sparks, Don Curry, Joe Johnston and a few others we are trying to confirm. This will be the first major masters vault competition in a major meet. Stay tuned for more info. Bubba

[artparry]

What qualifies someone to be invited to this event?

[Bubba PV]

I was given a list in August at Nationals in Spokane of the main ones they wanted. WRs, ARs, National Champions and/or World Championship medalists were the base requirement. Most of the vaulters were in Spokane so it made it easy. Bubba

PS - And of course the willingness to pay your own way and be able to get away from work in the middle of the week.

[vaultmd]

I would consider finding out if Paul Sinatra and Charlie Brown are available. I would think Charlie still has name recognition and Paul is still a threat to jump 16'.

[Bubba PV]

We're finishing up the list with a few hopefuls but we don't want to jinx it. I'm sure Paul would come but Charlie doesn’t go to the away meets or Nationals. I've tried to get him to many times. I'm a little surprised Halverson is coming but I'm sure glad he is. The field is limited to 10 and most committed in August or September. We just got final approval last night and I found out this morning. Still, four of us already have plane tickets. Bubba

[Bubba PV]

Hey Art. Please contact me at polevaulter@msn.com or bubba@bubbapv.com. I've sent you two PMs but they are still in my Outbox for some reason. Congrats on your outdoor M60 - 3.84m!! Bubba

[draglineman]

I would like to wish all the guys in this best of luck and a big WTG for just being able to get off the ground at their ages....LOL I wish I could be there with Bubba Sparks and Gary Hunter it would kinda be like the old days Eh?


Good luck....Brad Blair Texas A&M 1977

[Bubba PV]

Glad to see you in the group Brad!! Welcome back! Now let's get together and do some jumping. Bubba

[DBH027]

Bubba,

sounds great, I wish I had known about this...couldn't make it to Spokane, Drake is easy for me to get to from Chicago...hope to see you in Oshkosh...

Dan

[Bubba PV]

Heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy Dan. You're in if you want. You have met or exceeded the qualifiers. Email me at polevaulter@msn.com ASAP and we'll get you set up. Bubba

[Bubba PV]

http://www.godrakebulldogs.com/ViewArti ... M_ID=15700

DRAKE RELAYS RELEASE #21

APRIL 16, 2009

DES MOINES, IOWA – Ten athletes, ranging in ages from 31 to 62 years old will compete in the inaugural master’s invitational pole vault at 3 p.m. Thursday, April 23, of the Drake Relays.

“This is an elite field for this very special event with athletes ready to jump high,” said Doug Sparks, who is coordinating the event.

Athletes are expected to be wearing their most recent USA uniforms since the goal of most every high school and collegiate athlete is to represent their country.

Jeff Hartwig, the American indoor and former outdoor record holder in the pole vault, will be the master of ceremonies. The two-time Olympian is an eight-time Drake Relays champion. He set a master’s pole vault record by clearing 18 feet 9 ½ at the age of 40.

John Altendorf, 62, from Corvallis, Ore., is the oldest competitor. He is the only 60-year-old in history to clear 13 feet. He owns the indoor and outdoor world records (60-64) at 13-1.25. He recently captured the 2009 U.S. Masters Indoor title and won the 2008 World Indoor championship.

Jeff Kingstad, 56, of Winchester, Wis., won the 2008 US. Master’s Outdoor title (55-59) and finished the season ranked No. 2 in the world. He won the 1974 Big Ten Conference championship competing for Wisconsin.

Doug Sparks, 55, from The Woodlands, Texas, was ranked third in the world in 2008 (55-59) with a mark of 13-5.25, which was one inch off the American record. He won the 2009 U.S. Masters Indoor title.

Gary Hunter, 53, from Fort Wayne, Ind., owns the current Masters 50 indoor and outdoor world records,

Don Curry, 52, from Spring, Texas, was the 2007 National Senior Games champion (50-54) and was runner up at the 2007 U.S. Indoor and Outdoor Nationals.

Paul Babits, 48, from Fort Wayne, Ind., competed in both the 1984 and 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials and has set numerous records in his 36 years of vaulting.

Trevor Richards, 42, from Des Moines won the 2007 World Masters Championship (40-44) in Riccione, Italy. He is an assistant track and field coach at Drake.

Dan Holton, 40, of Chicago, Ill., was a two-time; U.S. Masters Outdoor champion (35-39) and three-time U.S. Masters Indoor winner, while also (2006, 2007, 2008), World Indoor Champion (2006).

Brian Carrel,4 0, from Champaign, Ill., was a two-time Missouri Valley Conference champion from Indiana State and has served as the men’s and women’s pole vault coach at Illinois since 2001

Des Moines resident David Lindenberg, 31, is the youngest vaulter in the field. He earned his way into the competition by winning the Masters30 division at the 2009 U.S. Masters Indoor Championships in Landover, Md. last month. He is a fourth-year medical student at Des Moines University.

[rainbowgirl28]

Gill Athletics says they will have live updates on their Twitter: http://twitter.com/gillathletics