Will Sparks fly over M55 American record? Good chance

Doug “Bubba” Sparks of Texas, the M55 national champ at Landover, is dealing with some hamstring issues, according to a nifty profile in his hometown paper near Houston. Yet he’s shooting for Dennis Phillips‘ M55 American outdoor record from 2001, which stands at 4.13 meters (13’6½”). How does Bubba know he can get his butt over 4.14? He says he’s done it in practice. His next major meet is the Drake Relays in a couple weeks. Hope his hammie is tanned, rested and ready.

Here’s Bubba, who trains at The Woodlands High School and helps coach vaulters.

Here’s the forementioned article on Bubba:

Woodlands’ Sparks, 55, wins national pole vault title

The Woodlands’ Doug “Bubba” Sparks recently won the USA Indoors Masters Championships pole vaulting event in the 55-59 age group.

By CHARLIE BIER

Published: 04.09.09

He may have strained his hamstring, but it was a smile price to pay for The Woodlands’ Doug “Bubba” Sparks in winning the USA Indoors Masters Championships pole vaulting event in the 55-59 age group.

When Sparks tweaked the muscle at the March 22-23 event in Landover, Md., he had already cleared 12″ – as it turned out all that was needed to claim the gold medal.

Sparks said the vaults at the national event were a bit low for all competitors, a circumstance he contributes to a brand new, and thus fast, surface at the meet, which threw off the vaulters’ timing.

“It was a good field, but (vaulting) was just difficult with the fast track,” he said.

So, after Sparks had injured himself clearing the initial 12″ height, he sat back and watched the mark stand up to the rest of the competition.

“You’d like to win it in a shootout, but it was good enough for the win, and that’s what matters. I’ll take it,” Sparks said.

Sparks has been pole vaulting since childhood.

In the 1970s, he was a five-time All American at Southwest Texas State and three-time national champion. His top vault came in 1978, when he scaled 18′ 1″.

He revived his career in 1989, joining what’s referred to as the masters, or elite circuit. Sparks also won a masters national championship in 1997, and owns a pile of other top-tier finishes at national and international meets.

And he show’s little sign of letting up.

He has the age-55 American pole vault record of 13′ 6 1/4″ in his sights, a mark he has cleared in practice.

With the hamstring on the mend, he hopes to top the height at the Drake Relays April 22-25 in Des Moines, Iowa, for the 100th running of the classic track and field event.

“This is the first year they’re having elite pole vaulting, so that’s pretty cool,” Sparks said.