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I was approached this week by fellow M55 vaulter and great friend, Bob Crites, about vaulting in an eight man masters pole vault exhibition at the USATF Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico on 2/28. This will be Sunday morning at 10 AM. I accepted the invitation through event coordinator and elite masters vaulter, Brad Winter. A day later I got a call from Joe Johnston saying he was going to juggle his drive to Kamloops to make it.

There has never been a masters vault at the USATF national meet so this is quite the breakthrough and I'm very appreciative for Brad and USATF for stepping out and doing this. I don’t know who the other four vaulters are besides Brad, Bob, me and Joe but I’m sure we will find out soon. The timing is a little tricky as we vault Sunday in NM and then I leave the very next Wednesday for Kamloops for World Masters Indoors. SO, another nice breakthrough for masters vaulting. Bubba

PS - Masters National Indoors will be at this facility in Albuquerque next year.

Bubba,

What does it take to get an invitation? This is an easy drive for me?

art

Hi Art and nice to hear from you. I'm not the guy on this but you could check with Brad Winter - WINTER@aps.edu. Bubba

Thanks Bubba, I sent him an email this morning. Hope all is well with you.

Need Help Please!!

I was contacted by the event coordinator today and due to World Indoors in Kamloops being the following weekend, and Masters Nationals in Boston two weeks after that, he has a few openings in the Masters Exhibition Vault at the USATF Elite Nationals in Albuquerque, New Mexico at 10 AM on Sunday, February 28, 2010. He has asked for men in their 50s and 60s to contact me at polevaulter@msn.com. Thanks so much! Bubba

That's awesome! Good luck to who ever competes!!!

OK, we're all set. Thanks a lot! Once the final field is confirmed we will post it here. Bubba

Hi All,

Here is the confirmed list for the Master's Invitational event at the USATF Nationals from event coordinator, Brad Winter.

Brad Winter
Bob Crites
Bubba Sparks
Joe Johnson
Art Perry
John Altendorf ?
Jeff Kingstad
George Barber

Should be fun! Bubba

I'm going to have to drop out of this meet to protect my bicep strain for Kamloops. Brad Winter is the event coordinator and he is looking for a replacement in the 50 - 65 year old range vaulting in the 11' to 13' range. His email is bradleywinter@comcast.net. I would give anything to go but can't risk world indoors any more than I did at Reno. Thanks! Bubba

Please disregard my last post. I forgot that Brad has an alternate onsite. Bubba

Just talked briefly to Bob Crites (M55) who jumped today in the Masters Pole Vault Exhibition. They were heading out to lunch before going back to watch the girls but he said that Charlie Brown (M50) won at 4.20m (13' 9 1/4") and host, Brad Winter vaulted 3.80m (12' 5 1/2"). Jeff Kingstad nh'd with two misses at 3.80m and one at the next height, guessing 4m (13' 1 1/2").

Earlier in the week Brad sent out photos of a beautiful piece of original Indian pottery that he acquired for the winner. I'm sure we will get more details later but this is what I know for now. Bubba