Benoit has the build.
of Belgium, 40, jumped 4.45 meters (14-7 1/4) as the best 40-and-over entrant at the
National Pole Vault Summit on Friday in Reno. Benoit won M35 at Winston-Salem nationals (after winning Belgian nationals three times,
we’re told here.) His PR is 5.32 (17-5 1/2). Top M35 gent appears to be
Kody Pierce, who went 4.10 (13-5 1/2). Ages aren’t given in
these results. If any masters women were there, I didn’t see them. In any case, nearly 50 masters jumped in five sections, with other winners being M60
Bubba Sparks at 3.50 (11-5 3/4) and a tie between 73-year-old
Mardon Connelly and 68-year-old
Bruce Perkins at 3.85 (12-7 1/2). (I looked up their ages on mastersrankings.com).
Star of the show was French world-record holder
Renaud Lavillenie, who cleared a meet record 5.92 (19-5).
(See it here.) We can ignore him until 2021, when he turns 35.
6 Responses
I think the heights for Marron Bruce are not correct. I know both of them and do not believe they have jumped that high in a number of years. That clearance would be a world record.
Good catch on the M65/70 marks. Likely was a typo and should have been 2.85 (9-4 1/4) instead of 3.85. I’ll check with the meet honchos.
Bubba Sparks didnt win the age 60 group in Reno, Doug Osland did at 3.60
Thanks, George. I was misled by the seeding. Doug jumped in another competition, 4 hours before Bubba. Lack of ages in results messed me up.
Masters vaulters are seeded at the Pole Vault Summit by marks turned in when they register, not by age. I had a BAD day and was able to clear just one bar. My EXCUSE? We had a terrible HEAD WIND over on Pit #7. Someone opened the front door when I jumped. HA HA! I encourage all vaulters to attend. It’s a great learning experience and lots of FUN. 2nd to Renaud was Sam Kendricks (USA) at 19′ 2 holding at the top of a 15′ 7 pole. That’s a 50″ push off. INCREDIBLE!
Masters women get mixed in with the open women, generally on the lowest open women’s pit.
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