What's the real M50 American indoor record?

[TrackCEO]

I'm guessing 4.41 by Jeff Kingstad, not Gary Hunter's 4.40 at Boston.

My thoughts:
http://masterstrack.com/blog/archives/000735.html

K E N

[rainbowgirl28]

Real as in highest ever officially recognized, or real as in highest ever by someone that age?

[Bubba PV]

Gary has a higher mark from the previous week not yet ratified. He looked great but he didn't feel like he was getting in as much as he would like, thus he was a little “under poled – 1580 carbonâ€Â

[TrackCEO]

Bubba,

What was Gary's higher recent mark? I don't care whether he jumped through the record paperwork hoops. I just wanna know what he jumped!

Good to see that U got your old butt over the bar in Beantown. So when are U gonna fly 4 meters?

K E N

[TrackCEO]

You know me. I just wanna know who has the top 'tude!

K E N

[Bubba PV]

Thanks Ken. I think 4m is this year as I'm getting on some bigger poles and my run is moving back as a result of heavy sprinting.

Here's Gary's AR make and WR miss, compliments of M60 winner, John Altendorf, who jumped 3.75m and almost got 3.93m for his own AR.

Gary's blowing through a 1580 carbon with the standards on 80 cm at 50 years old. DANG!!! He just doesn't age. Couldn't happen to a truly nicer guy. Bubba

http://www.bubbapv.com/Images/Boston-06/Gary/

[Vault High Athletics]

Your right the real record is 15-4 4.65meters set by Gary the previous week. It was also the new world record. I saw him do it he smoked it.

[vaultmd]

Darn! Every 5 years Gary leaves my age group. Just missed my chance . . .

[Bubba PV]

And sneaks into my group as the youngest for 2.5 years. The good news is that I've seen several ARs and WRs. Cool!! Makes us proud when the top two in the M50 had the highest and 3rd highest marks of any age group, including M30 forward.

In California I had the same local problem with Bill Halverson and Charlie Brown. STUDS!! No other way to put it.

Bubba

[TrackCEO]

SoCal appears to be PV Central, which includes Johnnye Valien -- the oldest female vaulter -- and Bud Held, the world's-best-masters-vaulter-who-used-to-hold-the-world-record-in-the-javelin.

Not to mention Bud's gal, Nadine, who honors the vault with her presence even though she'd be the greatest sprinter/hurdler is she wanted to.

Must be something in the water.

Surf's up!

K E N

[vaultwest]

I would have to second Bubba's thoughts. Those three guys Gary, Bill and Charlie are all amazing vaulters and of course great guys.

I guess for me It is a great pleasure and real rush to vault with them. For a guy that was nowhere on the seen when I was in high school or college it is so great to be in the game with them now.

One thing that really helps me keep going is the fact that back in our prime those three guys were vaulting 2 or 3 feet higher than I was and now in our fifties while I am not quite in their league they are now only a foot better.
By my way of thinking all I have to do is keep after it hard for another 10 years or so and I will be competitive with them. It is after all a war of attrition sometimes.

Besides the thrill of the actual vault and the great comaradarie that all of us vaulters have, the promise of being competitive is one of the things that keeps me vaulting.
But of course regardless of how high any of us vaults what really matters is that we dare to step on the runway and give it our best shot. That is a tough thing to do and makes all of us winners.
Vault On