BIG JUMP AT STANFORD INVITE...

[bjvando]

I just got a call from a buddy whos at the Stanford Invite.

CHELSEA JOHNSON JUMPED 15 FT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i believe that is an NCAA record and #5 all time American jump.

thats all i heard, i'm sure more details to come.

way to go chelsea!!

[qtpie57]

ya... she looked realllly awesome... she was almost out at 13', cleared it on her 3rd. Then wen't to 13'6, then 14' then 14'4", then she raised it to 14'9.5 for a new PR, then 15' cleared it on her second i think, then raised it to 15'1.5" got pretty close but i guess she ran out of steam by then.
shes a stud tho

[KYLE ELLIS]

why would you only go up 1 1/2 inches?

[achtungpv]

why would you only go up 1 1/2 inches?

gotta go for the metric barrier (4.60) that 95% of the world cares about.

Kinda like 19 feet isn't 19 feet unless it's 5.80 (19-00 1/4), IMHO.

[swtvault]

Gotta love the folks that go through 5 years of collegiate jumping and still don't understand the metric system. I know of at least 5-6 at my old school. I think half of them dont even know what height they are jumping at. Whats your PR "I dunno.....like some metric number....." Gotta learn it!

GF

[qtpie57]

i was standing next to her coach and he was tellin her to go to 15'1.5" so that she could have the 3rd all time american or something like that

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... 5SKKS1.DTL

In its short history as a renovated track and field facility, Cobb Track & Angell Field has proven to be a salubrious site for women pole vaulters.

Stacy Dragila set a world record of 15 feet, 9 1/4 inches (since bettered) there in 2001. Becky Holliday of Oregon set a collegiate record of 14-8 (since bettered) there in 2003.

And on a breezy Saturday afternoon in the Stanford Invitational, UCLA sophomore Chelsea Johnson set two collegiate records and became the fifth U.S. woman to clear 15 feet when she made the height on her second attempt before missing three times at 15-1 1/2.

"I love jumping here,'' she said.

In the process, Johnson confirmed her vaulting bloodlines. She's the daughter of Jan Johnson, the 1972 Olympic bronze medalist in the pole vault. Credit dad for not pushing his daughter toward the vault; this is only her third year in the event after hurdling and playing soccer and volleyball in high school.

"I had just had (indoor) nationals and took two weeks off,'' Johnson said. "I haven't worked out or vaulted in two weeks. This was like a practice meet -- a very good practice meet.''

With the 15-foot clearance, Johnson joined Dragila, Mary Sauer (15-3), Kellie Suttle (15-1) and Mel Mueller (15-1) as the only U.S. women to scale that height. Worldwide, eight other women have cleared 15-0 or higher.

"It's amazing,'' Johnson said. "You really can't ask for a better season so far. I hope to keep it going and peak at the Olympic Trials. I want to keep vaulting 15-0 consistently so I'm ready for July.''

Johnson's record day nearly ended before it began as she needed three tries at her opening height of 13-0 and two at 13-6. Then she hit her stride by clearing 14-0 and 14-4 and then 14-9 1/2, adding a half-inch to the collegiate record she set earlier this month.

On her second try, Johnson went over 15-0 with a slight wobble to the bar but it remained in place and she gained admittance to an exclusive club of women vaulters.

"I'm definitely not stopping at 15-0,'' she said. "Fifteen feet is a barrier every woman pole vaulter would like to reach. I never considered myself elite before. It feels good.'

[KYLE ELLIS]

did oregon compete anywhere?

[vaultguru6]

no we took the week off. We'll be down in Texas next week though.

[~jj~]

Actually it was wise to only nudge it up a little after 15'.
She has a rather large gap to the next pole, and it was a cross wind all day, so it was probably better to stay conservative.
~jj~

[vaulterpunk]

there is your explanation from the man with the most knowledge on the subject.

[OAKPV2004]

Actually it was wise to only nudge it up a little after 15'.
She has a rather large gap to the next pole, and it was a cross wind all day, so it was probably better to stay conservative.
~jj~

She should get on that bigger pole in the tailwinds of the texas relays...