Hillsborough County Won't Buy More PV Gear (FL)

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/nov/29 ... ting-gear/

County Won't Buy More Pole Vaulting Gear
The School District of Hillsborough County is getting out of the pole vault business, at least when it comes to buying equipment for the event, county athletic director Lanness Robinson said.
Robinson cited the continuing economic crunch, which has forced the district to take "an honest look" at where it spends its limited athletic funds. When it did, the expense of pole vault pits, poles and standards seemed excessive when considering the limited number of athletes who participate in this event.
A pole vault pit, for example, cost more than $10,000. The protective cover for the pit alone costs more than $1,000. Poles can cost more than $400 while the standards (the aluminum structures holding up the crossbar) are typically more than $1,500.
Robinson said most of the district's schools currently have safe and functioning pits and standards. But when those wear out, the county won't be replacing them unless "things get better economically."
"We'll still have the pole vault in most of our meets and kids can still compete in it," Robinson said.
Understandably, local prep coaches who have guided some of the area's top pole vaulters in recent years were saddened by the news.
"I hate to see that happen because we coach the pole vault, it's something we've always coached and we have some good athletes who score in meets," said Wharton track coach Wes Newton. "More importantly, I have personally put kids into college because of that event."

[bobby-7626]

This is a rather sad post, especially because im from Pasco and we are doing much of the same stuff with budget cuts and everything. Makes being a vaulter that much harder.