1. Matt McCubbins - August 9, 2015

   I was privileged to watch this drama first-hand…great battle between two great jumpers, with many other talented jumpers in the mix also. Tom Foley represented Team USA as well, fighting into the late stages of the competition. Congrats guys, you all made us proud!!

2. David ashford - August 9, 2015

   Congrats, your performances have been inspirational go team USA wow….

3. Jim Barrineau - August 10, 2015

   Never bet against Bruce !

4. Peter Hlavin - September 5, 2015

   As one of the jumpers involved in this “epic battle,” I thought that I’d provide additional color to the drama.

   There were 24 high jumpers from 17 countries in the M55-59 age bracket, of which three jumpers represented the U.S., including Bruce McBarnette, Tom Foley and me. Despite strong seeding marks posted by Emanuel Manfredini (Italy), Marc Flohr (Luxembourg), Ruslan Chebakov (Russia) and Marksym Yehorov (Ukraine), it was conceivable that the U.S. jumpers could finish 1-2-3. McBarnette had wind in his sails following his USATF Nationals victory two weeks earlier; Foley had posted an early season world leading outdoor mark of 1.75m (5-9); and I was fresh off a gold medal performance at the U.S. National Senior Games.

   Each U.S. jumper began the competition on an ominous note. Foley missed his first attempt at his opening height of 1.55m (5-1) and I missed my opening height attempt of 1.60m (5-3). At 1.65m (5-5), each U.S. jumper missed on their first attempts. Both Foley and McBarnette regrouped and made their second attempts. However, my woes continued with a second attempt miss. If I missed my third attempt, then I would be out of the competition and a top 10 finish. My thought at the moment was “I didn’t travel all this way to Lyon to leave the stage this early.” Well, I boomed my third attempt with tremendous bar clearance and was back in the game. Nine competitors had cleared 1.65m, of which three were U.S jumpers.

   The bar was raised to 1.70m (5-7). Back on track, I sailed over my first attempt as did the leaders – Flohr (Luxembourg) and Yehorov (Ukraine). The crowd roared with approval following each of our first attempt makes. After my jump, Swedish jumper, Mats Nagle, took me aside and said “It’s about time you woke up!”

   As previously mentioned by Ken Stone, all eyes in the Balmont Stadium were on the M55-59 high jump competition as the next drama unfolded – both Foley and McBarnette were on the brink of elimination with two misses each at 1.70m. Foley barely missed his third attempt and finished in seventh place. McBarnette, summoning experience from 11 previous world titles, cleared his third attempt. The crowd roared and, once again, the game was back on.

   Russian flop jumper Chebakov and Italian straddle jumper Manfredini (apparently nursing a sore knee) failed on their third attempts at 1.65m and finished in fifth and sixth place, respectively.
   Despite three earlier misses, my first attempt clearance at 1.70m thrust me into third place. McBarnette, also with three misses, sat in fourth. Luxembourg jumper, Flohr, flawless through 1.70m with no misses, was in first place and Ukranian jumper, Yehorov, was in second place with only one miss.

   Since there were now only four competitors remaining, the rules indicated that the bar progression would change from an increase of 5cm to 3cm. The bar was raised to 1.73m (5-8).
   Both Flohr and Yehorov faltered and missed their first attempts at 1.73m. With the door ajar, McBarnette and I soared over the bar on our first attempts. The crowd roared. Suddenly, McBarnette and I were tied for the lead. Perhaps somewhat rattled by back-to-back first attempt bar clearances by the U.S. jumpers, Flohr and Yehorov each failed in their two remaining attempts at 1.73m.

   With only two competitors remaining – both U.S. and tied for the lead – the bar was raised another 3 cm to 1.76m (5-9.25). McBarnette was up first and cleared the bar. Again, the crowd roared.

   On my first attempt, I was up and over but, unfortunately, I nudged the bar on my descent. After landing in the pit and believing that the bar would stay rested on the standard platforms, I rose to celebrate. Unfortunately, the bar fell off after what felt like an eternity. The crowd gasped in disbelief. I then proceeded to miss my next two attempts and was out of the competition.

   Being the sole remaining competitor, McBarnette requested that the bar be raised to 1.81m. He missed all three attempts and the “epic” M55 competition was over. The U.S. would go 1-2 with McBarnette earning the gold medal and I capturing the silver medal. Luxembourg jumper, Flohr, finished third with a bronze medal while Ukranian jumper, Yehorov, claimed fourth place.

   My hat is off to my U.S. compatriots, McBarnette and Foley, as well as to all other M55-59 competitors. It was a competition marked with what one would expect from an epic battle, including the world’s best jumpers; enthusiastic, knowledgeable and engaged crowd; intensity; struggles; momentum swings; sudden lead changes; gritty determination; gut-wrenching misses; and nail-biting bar clearances. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to compete and medal in this epic battle.

   Note: If McBarnette had failed in his three attempts at 1.76m, then there would have been a jump-off between McBarnette and me. Now, that would have made things really interesting!

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