Pat Manson clears 18 at age 38 at Kansas Relays

Pat Manson, a Kansas Jayhawk track alumnus, vaulted 5.50 meters (18-0 1/2) in a return to the Kansas Relays over the weekend. At age 38, he’s showing the needed fitness to take down Larry Jessee’s maligned world record of 18-0 of 10 years ago. Elsewhere on the geezervault front, Doug “Bubba” Sparks shares a link to a photo sequence of a 10-8 jump by M65 Steve Warr at the San Antonio Senior Games.


I also came across a wonderful post by former M40 world record holder Roger Ruth of Victoria, Canada:
Thirty years and two knee replacements ago, back in the days when black Catapoles were just turning to green, I scribbled down what I thought were some reasons masters athletes had returned to vaulting. I ran into the scribble last night. It doesn’t quite fit into Bubba’s category of “Stories Needed,” so I’ll post it as a new topic. Cheers, RR
MOTIVATIONS OF MASTERS ATHLETES
The Short-Penis Syndrome–
“At least I’m good at this, even if I’m not very good at anything else”
The Revenge-By-Proxy Syndrome–
“I’m better now than the guys who used to beat me when I was younger.”
The Eternal Youth Syndrome–
“I’m as good as I ever was.” (Or, “At least better than I was a year ago.”)
The Limelight Syndrome–
“Age-class competition gives me some attention, even if I’m lousy.”
The Fitness-and-Health Syndrome–
“I’m not very good, but at least I feel better because of the exercise.”
The Mortician’s Delight Syndrome–
“I’m not very good, but at least I look better because of the exercise.”
The Publish-or-Perish Syndrome–
“My records will outlive me.”

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April 24, 2006

One Response

  1. Matt - April 27, 2006

    Age 38 5.85 meters Jeff Hartwig this year
    He should clear 19 feet in 2008 at age 40 if he goes for the trials

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