How do you go higher than a summit? You go to the University of Wisconsin. A week after the National Pole Vault Summit in Reno, where he topped the listed M55 indoor WR in the vault with a jump of 4.11, Jeff Kingstad went 4.12 (13-6 1/4) yesterday at Madison, according to this post on Becca Gillespy’s message board. The official school Web site confirmed the mark, saying: “Former Badger Jeff Kingstad, a UW letter winner from 1971-74, broke a world record in the pole vault in his age group (55-59) with a clearance of 13-6 1/4.”

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In November, Phil Raschker journeyed to Monte Carlo to pick up her IAAF Masters Athlete of the Year award. On February 11, she won’t have to travel so far if she wins another award for her 2007 feats: Just drive down Interstate 75 a piece from her home in Marietta, Georgia. She’s one of three finalists for Atlanta (metro area) Amateur Athlete of the Year, as she learned from this letter a few days ago. Last year, the award went to a water skier, Regina Jaquess. The other two nominees haven’t been announced. With a population of about 5.2 million, metro Atlanta is no small burg. So this is pretty cool. Best of luck, Phil.

Who knew? I can turn an Italian phrase (and cliche) with the best of them. At least, that’s how it looks on a new Italian track site, which goes heavy on masters. A few weeks ago, an Italian journalist named Andrea Benatti asked me for an interview, and so I let my hair down (as far as it goes), and responded to her questions. The result is posted twice. Here’s the Italian version. And here’s the English version. In case you don’t want to register to gain access, I’ve reposted the interview below. Bon appetit.

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Three-time Olympian Suzy Favor Hamilton has decided against going for No. 4 at age 39, Track & Field News reports. She says: “With all my past injuries I am finding it very difficult to continue on with the training. Things are going well and I am enjoying life after sports. I am selling real estate with [husband] Mark and also doing public speaking for coaches’ clinics and companies to motivate employees to a healthy life style and really enjoying it.” She hinted at a Trials try last May. No sweat, Suzy. Have a good life — but masters will always welcome you!

Roald Bradstock, the M40 spearchucker extraordinaire, reports: “I wanted to let you know that my new website: www.roaldbradstock.com is now officially up and running. It has taken over five months to create. I would like to personally thank Dennis Filglini at MacDaddi for creating this site. . . . Also, there are now 24 videos posted on YouTube. Stay tuned. In the next few months more artwork, videos and news will be added. Incidentally, for those of you that do not know I got remarried. A photo of Clarissa, my new wife, can be seen in the “My Story” section under “Photos” on the new website.”

Craig Masback, who pays attention to masters track only when forced to, is quitting as CEO of USA Track & Field and taking a job with Nike, USATF reports today. Although he’s been honest on why USATF Masters hasn’t gotten the marketing it deserves (“You don’t have the numbers,” he would say), he hasn’t done much with his bully pulpit to grow the masters movement. (And he’s never entered a masters meet himself, despite his world-class credentials as an open miler.)

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Can Sorensen make the Trials? Take our poll!

If there’s anything harder than running a sub-4 mile at age 40, it’s doing it at age 41. But Jim Sorensen will give it a shot, he tells me. A world-record setter in his first M40 year, Jim fell short of 4 by 5 seconds. He’s mainly focused on the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon. He turns 41 the month before the June meet. He says of making that meet’s “B” qualifying standard in the 1500: “I think it’s possible, my fitness is good and I am looking forward to putting in the work. It would be awesome to line up for one of the 1500 heats in Eugene.” In 1996, Jim was a surprise runner-up at the Olympic Trials but couldn’t get the Olympic qualifying time. This time, Beijing isn’t the issue. It’s showing what a 41-year-old middle-school P.E. coach can do. I interviewed him by email, and Jim was typically frank about his goals.

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Ken Weinbel, an 80-year-old thrower who was USATF Masters T&F Committee chairman from 1996 to 2001, is reported to be in poor health with a recent history of unexplained seizures and falls. He’s been moved recently to Daystar Retirement Village, an assisted-living facility in Seattle. His wife, Noelle, says doctors won’t let him go home until the reasons for his problems have been nailed down. Noelle writes: “It would be heart-warming if Ken received mail from family and friends.” Ken can be reached at Daystar Retirement Village, 2615 SW Barton Street, Apt. 3-220, Seattle, WA 98126-3900. Noelle also wrote some friends and family members: “Thank you one and all for your prayers and also for your physical and emotional support while turning the page to this most difficult chapter in our lives.”

In my original post on the weekend’s Pole Vault Summit, I overlooked the W50 world indoor record by Donna Schultz. According to this article in the Reno newspaper, Donna cleared 3.07 (10-0 3/4) to beat the listed W50 world indoor record of 3.06 by Phil Raschker at Boston nationals in 2000. The results sheet indicates Donna cleared 9-0 and 9-6 on her first tries, and also the WR on her first attempt, before missing three times at 3.17 (10-4 3/4). Donna has been jumping for years, but this mark is a real breakthrough. Way to go, Donna! (And my apologies for missing your mark.)

Paul Babits, 47, sets vault records as often as I get haircuts. But lately his big jumps have been at home in Indiana, where he coaches at the Vault High Athletics indoor facility. Nobody doubted his ability, but it’s nice to see him scale huge heights outside his comfort zone in Fort Wayne. Here’s a video of his makes at 4.90 (16-1) and 5.01 (16-5 1/4). (Disregard the figures on the screen.) Paul gets perfect verticality!