Historical Perspective

Much has been made of yesterday's best M55 vault contest in history. To put in in perspective, here are yesterdays results followed by the past five World Championships and the 2009 World Masters Games. I have highlighted in blue a mark that would have been in our top four. Only 4 of the 18 medal performances would have made our top four yesterday. Never has there even been two vaulters over 3.95m and we had four. Going to be very interesting in Sacramento.

2011 National Masters Indoors - Albuquerque, New Mexico
Gary Hunter - 4.31m
Charlie Brown - 4.10m (will be ammended to 4.21m)
Kirk Bentz - 3.95m
Bubba Sparks - 3.95m
---------------
2010 World Indoors - Kamloops, BC Canada
Kirk Bentz, USA - 3.85m
Erno Mako, Hungary - 3.75m
Dan West, USA - 3.55
--------------
2009 World Masters Games - Sydney, Australia
Bubba Sparks, USA - 4.00m
Allan Williams, Great Britain - 3.50m
Phillip Carrero, Australia - 3.30m
----------------------------
2009 World Outdoors - Lahti, Finland
Wolfgang Ritte, Germany - 4.25m
Bill Murray, USA - 3.85m
Valeriy Plotnikov, Russia - 3.35m
-----------------
2008 World Indoors - Clermont Ferrand, France
Wolfgang Ritte, Germany - 4.31m
Marc VanVliet, Netherlands - 3.40m
Nicholas Phillps, Great Britain - 3.30m
------------------
2007 World Outdoors - Riccione, Italy
Handinger, Germany - 4.00m
Iwinski, Poland - 3.85m
Hawkins, Canada - 3.65m
---------------------
2006 World Indoors - Linz, Austria
Karel, CZE Republic - 3.90m
Bogdon, Germany - 3.90m
Seppo, Finland - 3.40m

Story behind the story
Albuquerque Councilman and pole vaulter friend, Brad Winter was highly effective in yesterday's championships coming to Albuquerque. Not only that, he is responsible for that great track we competed on. The $1.2 million track was sent to the Staples Center in Los Angeles and refused in some type of sponsor stand off. When Brad told Mondo that $1.2 million was out of the question they told him they had the one intended for the Staples Center sitting in storage and he could have it for $500,000. Deal done, he now needs to convince city hall that they should tie up the convention center for three months at a time. These efforts culminated with USATF Nationals last week and Masters this week. The track is open to the community on Tuesday and Thursday nights with All Comers after the college meets on Saturdays. Next they are trying to lure a big high school invitational. Great seeing you and catching up Brad and congrats on your vision and efforts to see it develop. Bubba