Bubba Sparks has a blast as top vaulter at Expo Explosion

Eight masters were among the 100 vaulters yesterday in Belton, Texas, competing at the Expo Explosion. Doug “Bubba” Sparks, the M55 champion at the Sydney World Masters Games, was credited with a 13-6, but he posted a 3.99-meter mark (13-1) on mastersrankings.com. The listed M55 American indoor record is 4.12 (13-6 1/4). (Results provided by Becca Gillespy Peter suggest no metric measurements were taken despite the meet boasting a USATF sanction. Sigh.) W55 Dinah Anderson’s 7-6 clearance topped W35 Helen Croskell’s 7-footer in the masters women’s division at the Bell County Expo Center, a 6,000-seat domed stadium. After Bubba came George Barber (12-0), Don Arnold (9-6), M70 Don Islett (9-6), M50 Gary Scheffe (9-0) and Donald Curry (9-0). Great work, gents. You’ve lit a fuse under the 2010 season!