Jeff Hartwig, a world-class vaulter who turns 40 on Sept. 25, 2007, has higher aspirations than mere age-group records, but is acutely aware of the calendar. He writes me: “Tim Lobinger of Germany . . . planted a bug in my ear last year when he said that we could organize some late season meets maybe in Europe after my 40th B-day. The World Athletics Final is around Sept. 22 (in 2007), so many of the top guys will be around in Europe to cheer me on . . . . My coach, Earl Bell, holds the M40 indoor record so I don’t have a big desire to break his record, but the outdoor record would be something I would shoot for.”

This is wonderful news, and adds another near-M40 vaulter to the mix of potential record-chasers. A few days ago, a fellow Jayhawk named Pat Manson wrote me: “I am well and hoping to jump high again this year.”
Pat, of course, holds the world record for consecutive years over 18 feet — 21 as of 2006 and counting. His PR is 19 feet 2¼. But he doesn’t turn 40 until late November 2007, so his breakthrough may not come until the 2008 season.
At last!
Ever since 1996 — when Larry Jessee won USATF and WAVA ratification of a highly suspect 5.50 (18-0 1/2) jump at age 44 at an ad hoc meet in El Paso, Texas — the pole vault world has been waiting for a savior of the M40 outdoor record. With Hartwig and Manson going strong, our prayers should be answered in the next few years. Jeff jumped 18-9 this year and Pat 18-0 1/2.
Tim Lobinger doesn’t turn 40 until September 2012, but with a 2006 season best of 5.90 meters (19-4 1/4) he has the best shot at taking down the M35 world record this coming season. But right behind Germany’s Tim is America’s Tim — Athens Olympic champion Tim Mack, who cleared 5.75 (18-10 1/4) this year at age 33.
At the moment, Jeff Hartwig is the listed world outdoor record holder for the M35 vault at 5.86 (19-2 3/4). But strangely (but not surprisingly), he’s not the M35 American Record holder. The USATF masters record page cites Gary Hunter’s 5.08 (16-8) from 1991 as the best American vault for the M35 age group. Don’t get me started.
Although Hartwig isn’t obssessed about age-group records, he knows an injustice when he sees one. In reply to an email I sent Jeff a few days ago, he also wrote me:
“I have not kept up with age-group records or how they are accepted. I just recently found out that I am responsible for applying for certification of my indoor American Records from 2002 although I have never done so for other records in the past. As for Gary holding any records in that 35-39 age group . . . those should have never been certified as there have been many athletes over 35 that have jumped well above 5.08.
“Tim Bright jumped 19 at 36, Kory Tarpenning 18-10 at 35 and several other over 18′. I would, however, like to see those cleared up as to give a little more credibility to Masters records in general.
“I was always under the impression that if the IAAF accepted the marks that even if done overseas, USATF generally followed suit and accepted the results and gave credit for records where applicable. I just found out that there is apparently an application process.”
Jeff also sent some of his own stats since turning 35 on Sept. 25, 2002:
“Here are my best results and the dates. As a side note, all marks from Bell Athletics are indoor marks. We sometimes have meets in preparation for outdoor nationals but they are still held indoors unless noted and then they would be held at Arkansas State University. From what I know, I would think these to be World Records as well as American Records, but I could be missing a mark from somewhere.
Indoor
June 01 2003 Bell Athletics 5.80 19’0 1/4″ (outdoor season)
Feb 18 2004 Bell Athletics 5.80 19’0 1/4″
Feb 22 2004 Bell Athletics 5.88 19’3 1/2″
July 4 2004 Bell Athletics 5.86 19’2 3/4″ (outdoor season)
Feb 18 2006 University of South Dakota 5.85 19’2 1/2″
Outdoor
May 31 2004 US Open Palo Alto (Stanford) 5.80 19’0 1/4″
June 8 2004 Zaragoza Spain 5.81 19’0 3/4″
June 19 2004 Prefontaine 5.80 19’0 1/4″
Aug 28 2005 Potsdam Germany 5.80 19’0 1/4″
Jeff continues:
“As for the future. My training for this season is going very well. I will compete a full indoor season starting in Reno at the Pole Vault Summit. . . . My coach, Earl Bell, holds the M40 indoor record, so I don’t have a big desire to break his record but the outdoor record would be something I would shoot for. I did however speak to Gregory Yegorov last year and he told me he turns 40 in January of ’07 and would be taking shots at Earl’s record (5.18, or 17-0). If he or anyone else would break Earl’s record, then I will also pursue indoor meets. I have not submitted a birth certificate or any paperwork to the national office but can do so if necessary.”
But Jeff knows which side his bread is buttered on:
He concludes: “Snake breeding season is in full swing so I am keeping busy and looking forward to 2007.”
All I want for Christmas 2007 are some new men’s pole vault records. Looks as if Santa will deliver.