IAAF World Outdoor Championships
August 20th-August 29th, 1999
Seville, Spain
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the 1999 IAAF World Outdoor Championships August 20th-August 29th, 1999 Seville, Spain |
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(now available 08/23 with formchart & VaultnGus' jump-by-jump description) (now available 08/23) (now available 08/24) (now available 08/24) (results available Thursday August 26th) |
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Shagadelic baby! The World Championships are almost upon us. I don't know about you folks but I hate that one year out of every four where there aren't any World Championship or Olympic meets. The Goodwill Games are pretty cool and all but there's nothing like a World or Olympic gold medal to make vaulters reach for the sky. YEAH BABY YEAH!
Already there have been major happenings that have affected the Championships - even our beloved pole vault. Fortunately the vault has not been tainted by a drug scandal (cross your fingers) or race-fixing, but nonetheless there have been some drastic events.
Athletics-Tarasov decries conditions in Russia
By Gene Cherry 08/23/99
Favourite Maksim Tarasov wears the colours of Russian in international competitions. But he is forced to live and train in Budapest because, he says, it is impossible to find adequate facilities in Russia.
``Things in sport are getting worse and worse in Russia,'' said the 1992 Olympic champion.
Tarasov said he believed former Russian pole vaulter Viktor Chistyakov probably did the right thing by becoming an Australian.
``In my home city,'' said Tarasov, who was born in Yarslavl, ``there are simply no facilities for the pole vault. When I became a national level vaulter, I had to spend half a year away from home where there was a pit and a runway.
``Now it has become even worse. You would laugh if you see the stadium.''
The media also has forsaken sport, Tarasov said.
``When I jumped 6.05, it was quite a big national record, they didn't even mention it on the television,'' he said. ``They only care about politics, the president and how bad the economy is. Nothing else.''
Tarasov said he had not lived in Russia in seven years and had visited there for only one or two months in total since leaving.
``After the Soviet Union broke up, it looks like there was a big explosion,'' he said. ``A lot of people went to different places.''
Nonetheless, Tarasov said he had no plans to renounce his Russian citizenship ``unless there is something terrible'' in his homeland.
Athletics-Bubka is ruled out for World Championships
KIEV, Aug 10 (Reuters)
Sergei Bubka will not defend his pole vault title at this month's world athletics championships in Seville because of an achilles injury, Ukraine's head coach said on Tuesday. Valery Alexandrov told Reuters he had just spoken with Sergei's brother (Vasil) ``and he informed me that Sergei will not go to Seville to defend his gold medal.
``Sergei just had a consultation with his doctor in Helsinki and was told to stay away from competition for about a month.''
Last week, Alexandrov said Bubka would travel to Seville where he would make a decision on whethe rhe could compete.
``Instead, he is coming home to rest,'' the coach said.
Bubka, 37, the only man to win all six world titles in one discipline, has been suffering from a nagging Achilles injury for most of this season. However the Ukrainian, who still holds the world pole vault record of 6.14 metres, has said he wants to finish his illustrious career at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Sad day - Bubka came back from a previous Achilles injury to make an amazing comeback at the '97 Champs with perhaps the best vault of his career (his jump at 19-8 1/2 was at LEAST 20-4 clearance...)
Athletics-Russian vaulter to compete for Australia
LONDON, Aug 14 (Reuters)
Former Russian pole vaulter Viktor Chistyakov has cleared up confusion over whom he will represent at this month's world athletics championships by saying he would compete for Australia, officials said.
A spokesman for Athletics Australia said on Friday that Chistyakov had officially notified them of his decision in their favour.
``He's told us today he will represent Australia,'' spokesman Brian Roe said from Monte Carlo. ``Athletics Australia is delighted with the decision.''
Chistyakov has lived in Australia since 1996 and was granted citizenship this week.
He has not represented Russia for three years but Russian athletics chief Valentin Balakhnichyov said this week he had a letter from the vaulter saying he would still like to represent Russia at the Seville championships.
Chistyakov's wife Tatiana Grigorieva was already in the Australian pole vaulting team and he said in a statement that it was logical for him and his wife to compete for the same country.
...but wait there's more...
MOSCOW, Aug 13, 1999
Russian athletics chief Valentin Balakhnichyov has contested a move by pole vaulter Viktor Chistyakov to represent Australia at next week's world athletics championships.
Chistyakov, who has lived in Australia since 1996, was granted Australian citizenship this week and is is a leading medal contender in Seville.
Balakhnichyov said he had a letter from Chistyakov saying he would like to compete for Russia.
``Well, we just have to wait and see,'' Balakhnichyov said. ``But we are not going to let others steal our athletes.''
Emma George Injured
From ATHLETICS AUSTRALIA
Emma George Injury - Full Report
Pole Vault World Record holder Emma George had a training accident on Monday afternoon at her training camp near Bellinzona in Switzerland.
She landed on her back on the track after missing the bags on landing.
She was taken to hospital where she had thorough checks for fractures and a series of tests for other injuries. She had no broken bones and her coccyx is not fractured. The results of other tests will be known over the next day or so but no significant injury is anticipated.
She was released on Tuesday during the day and has been able to walk around quietly. She says that she feels very much better than yesterday but fully accepts the advice of the doctors who have treated her to take it easy for the next few days.
She will be restricted to pool training in the immediate future and will miss her scheduled competitions in Stockholm on Friday night and Hechtel on 7th August, her two remaining competitions prior to Seville.
Team doctor Chris Bradshaw said, "I will be in touch with the medical practitioners who treated her. Emma will be bringing forward her planned arrival at the team training camp in Vila Real, Portugal to around 8th August so that her return to full training can be supervised by the team medical staff."
National Head Coach Chris Wardlaw said, "We are very pleased Emma has avoided any severe injury. Pole Vaulting is a very serious sport and this is an indication of the dangers involved. I am confident that by joining the team in Portugal on the 8th of August she will have the best possible chance getting herself fit for the World Championships."
posted by Bubba Sparks
Australian pole-vault world record-holder Emma George was rushed to hospital yesterday after injuring her back during a training mishap in Switzerland. George, who missed the landing bag and fell 4.5 metres onto the ground, complained of feeling numb but said she was lucky to be only badly bruised.
George Fit but Fragile for Pole Vault Contest
By Phil Minshull SEVILLE, Aug 19 (Reuters)
Emma George's ambition to win the first women's outdoor world pole vault gold medal nearly crashed to earth last month in a nasty training acccident. On Thursday, with evident relief, the world record holder gave herself the green light to compete at the Seville world championships starting on Saturday.
George, who set the current world record of 4.60 metres in February, fell beyond the landing bed and on her back in Switzerland last month. Initially she thought that she would not be in contention to add the world title to her 1997 World Student Games and 1998 Commonwealth Games gold medals.
``My confidence has taken a knock. At first I thought I was out of the world championships but then I was able to join the rest of the Australian team training in Portugal. It was not until Monday that I was able to do my first full run up for a month,'' George said.
George has had to re-live the horror of the incident several times because she was having the session filmed.
Upon arrival at the hospital, the Swiss doctors were unable to understand the nature of her injuries until they were shown the video.
``They (the doctors) finally worked it out. You can see me disappearing down the side of the landing pit. I was crying out for 10 minutes before they got an ambulance to me,'' George recounted somberly.
She said she was still not 100 percent fit and added: ``It would be great if the championships would have been held in another three weeks.''
However she has decided to take a tilt at Saturday's competition, albeit on medication, because of the importance of the occasion.
``Women's pole vault is in the world championships and the next Olympics. It would be great if it could now be on the grand prix circuit,'' George added.
George has dominated the event since it started to become popular four years ago, setting 11 outdoor world records. However her days of pole vault dominance may soon be coming to an end for the former trapeze artiste with the Flying Fruit Flies circus troupe. The Ukraine's Anzhela Balakhonova, who last year won the inaugural European title, and the American vaulter Stacy Dragila have this year gradually closed the gap between George and the rest of the world. George may not at the moment be in the world record shape she believes may be necessary to win the world title.
Emma Versus all of the Women's Pole Vault
Sevilla 99 Preview: Emma versus all the Women's Pole Vault
Ottavio Castellini for the IAAF
"It appears to be like the high jump, except that the bar is rigidly in place. In fact it looked like several boards, one above the other, held firmly in place on their sides. The women could rest their hands on it for support as they vaulted over"
This is Dave Carey's description of a "sort" of pole vault, at the time of the Vassar College Field Day. It is 1910 and the description bears little relation to the pole vault as we know it today, on the eve of the Third Millennium. Nonetheless, it is the ancient precursor of the current pole vault, which the IAAF Council opened to women competitors just a few years ago.
Were I to mention the names of Ruth Spencer and her American compatriots Hazel Hutoff and Pauline Siebenthal, they probably wouldn't mean that much to you. But I will mention them anyway, because they were the first women to jump using a pole in their hands. Ruth jumped 1.725 m in 1911, Pauline achieved no less (!) than 1.855m. The first to clear 2 metres? Miss Mildred Carl, another young lady from the land of Stars and Stripes, who cleared first 2.185 and then 2.209m.Prehistory perhaps, but ours is a sport that has a culture of preserving its past.
In this short and modest history, mention must be made of one person in particular: Miss Diane Bragg. Does that mean anything to you? It is not easy: she is the sister of "Tarzan", one of the greatest specialists of the pole vault of all time. This was the nickname of Donald G. Bragg, Don to his friends. He was the man who conquered Rome's Olympic Stadium during the 1960 Olympic Games, winning, with a clearance of 4.70m, one of the longest finals ever recorded (over 7 hours). His little sister Diane became so enamoured of her idol that she took up practising the pole vault in her garden and actually managed to clear no less than 2 metres 59 centimetres.
All of this will come to mind on Saturday 21 August, in the splendid stadium of La Cartuja de Sevilla when, at 19.05 the off is given for the young women who will animate the first final of this spectacular discipline. For it is the first time that the World "outdoor" Championships includes the women's pole vault. Previously, the event had been contested twice indoors: in Paris Bercy in 1997 and in Maebashi earlier this year. But never outdoors, until now; another good reason for us to take a look at this discipline and attempt an "analysis" just three weeks before it takes place.
We might attempt to follow a theme, and the title of that theme might just as well be: "Emma versus all". The family name of this particular Emma is George, she is Australian, not yet 25 years old and comes from the state of Victoria, she studied art and economics at Deakin University in Melbourne. Her first steps in the world of athletics were taken, as is the case with most youngsters, at school, where she sprinted and did the long jump. They were unremarkable steps and certainly gave no indication of a bright future in the stadium.
But one detail mustn't be overlooked: while she was still at school, the young Emma also frequented the Flying Fruit Flies Circus, as a trapeze artist, acquiring that ease and agility which are essential in a discipline like the pole vault. It is not coincidental that nearly all of the young women at the top of the rankings in this discipline come from a background of gymnastics. You can see it in their physiques: they are all attractive, compact and agile, and this derives from their gymnastic training. But this may also be a limiting factor. I really believe that when this discipline attracts taller, stronger women, able to hold a longer and more rigid pole, the current world record (which Emma George set a few months ago at the respectable height of 4.60m) will rapidly be wiped out and significantly so. Physique will play an important role, but so will research into the materials used.
But let us speak a moment of Emma, who discovered the pole vault towards the end of 1994. In her first competition, she cleared 2.55, a few centimetres less than Don Bragg's sister. Then she started to progress consistently: first three metres and then higher and higher. At that time, the Chinese dominated the event, especially Sun Caiyun, who raised the record bar on numerous occasions. Emma's progress was stunning: in just one year, 1994-1995, she went from 3.05m to 4.28m, clearing 4.25 in November 1995 and marking the first of her many records indoors and out and acquiring the nickname of "the female Sergey Bubka".
The first to clear 14 feet (December 1995), first over 15 feet (February 1998), Emma gradually raised the world record to today's respectable level. But as the heights increased, so did the standard of the competition. Just a year ago, it appeared nigh unreasonable to set the qualification standard for the World Championships at 4.35m, with a view to going straight to a final, granted that this was the first appearance of the event at a World Championships. At the end of the 1998 season, 9 women had achieved the standard, today there are 13. If the standard were to be dropped to 4.30, there would be 18 contenders.
Though Emma George is the favourite, because of her various records, there is no question that the winner of the inaugural gold could well be another name altogether. One details stands out against George: the fact that she has nearly always set her records in "cooler" events, far away from excessive competition and pressure. The proof? Two years ago, in the World Indoor Championships, she lost the title and the record to the USA's Stacy Dragila; this year in Maebashi, she didn't go through to the end of the competition, thanks to an injury, which curtailed her chances.
And Emma suffered another injury, just a few days ago, in the training centre of the Swiss team, not far from Bellinzona. During a training session, attempting a height of 4.50, Emma landed off the cushion, hurting her back. Despite initial fears, there were no serious injuries, but an enforced break in training just a few weeks from the Championships is not a pleasant thing.
So Emma is sidelined, for the moment, while her adversaries appear to be in splendid form. Two of them in particular. The graceful Ukrainian Anzhela Balakhonova, who has cleared better than 4.50 three times in the recent weeks, setting a new European record of 4.55m and winning a superb duel in the Olympic Stadium in Stockholm during the DN Galan a few evenings ago, with an excellent 4.45m, while competing against at least three-quarters of the adversaries she will face in Sevilla.Graceful Anzhela and wide-eyed Natalia Grigorieva, a true "pin-up" of the athletics world. She comes from Saint Petersburg, Russia, but followed her pole vaulter husband, Viktor Chistyakov, to Australia and, since last year, now represents that country. Natalia satisfies all of the criteria that we mentioned earlier: leaving aside her looks, she is tall, agile and fast, she could be a serious candidate for the highest step of the podium. In her athletics career she also had a reasonable amount of success in the 400m hurdles. Balakhonova and Grigorieva met in Stockholm and their duel ended with the success of the Ukrainian who, after winning, had the bar set at 4.61, a centimetre higher than Emma George's record. In her recent competitions, Grigorieva has been extremely consistent, with clearances between 4.40 and 4.45m, the higher mark being achieved in Salamanca (Spain).
But what about the Germans? We most certainly need to take them into account among the medal contenders. Nastja Ryshich put all the cards in order when she won the World Indoor title in Maebashi with 4.50m. Nicole Rieger – now Mrs Humbert – is also a close contender (bronze in Maebashi), Yvonne Bushbaum is the "enfant terrible" of the team, at just 19. If she is not intimidated, she could well be the joker in the German hand. For the moment, she owns the world junior record, with 4.42m. But this may not be enough for her. Young people are never satisfied.And who knows what Stacy Dragila will do. The laureate from Idaho State University was the biggest surprise of the World Indoors in Paris Bercy, when she took the gold instead of Emma George. And let's not forget Daniela Bartova, the former European record holder last year, with 4.51m and who now looks to be getting back to some good heights (4.36) after a long break.
As the heat of the Andalusan evening mellows into a more liveable temperature, the answer will come from the runway; whether it will be the heiress to Gina Lollobrigida, as she played the starring role in a Fifties film "The Trapeze", our retired trapeze artist Emma George? The "pin-up" Tatiana Grigorieva? Or maybe the gymnast Anzhela Balakhonova? Or one of the tenacious German trio of Ryshich, Bushbaum and Humbert? Or our laureate Dragila? The wheel is turning ladies and gentlemen – faites vos jeux!
Women's Pole Vault Final
Saturday August 21st 7:05 pm (Spanish time)
Men's Pole Vault Qualifying Rounds
Tuesday August 24th
Men's Pole Vault Final
Thursday August 26th 7:10 pm (Spanish time)
Looks like we might actually get some decent coverage but only if you're anight owl like myself
Times are Eastern Standard Time
TBS Superstation
8/23 Monday 12:40am-2:40am
8/24 Tuesday 12:35am-2:35am
8/25 Wednesday 2:25am-4:25am
8/26 Thursday 12:35am-2:35am
8/27 Friday 1:50am-3:50am
NBC
8/22 Sunday noon-1:30pm
8/28 Saturday 3:30pm-4:30pm
8/29 Sunday noon-4:00pm
9/4 Saturday 2:00pm-2:30pm
If anybody knows any other TV coverage available (CBC? Eurosport?) I will gladly post them...
DOH! Unfortunately I will be in Rochester the first weekend of the champs and thus my coverage of the women's final will be delayed until at least Monday. Not to fear 'netters as there are plenty of sources to get your fix
First up Runner's World looks like they have an awesome site ready to go
http://www.runnersworld.com/seville99
The IAAF also has their butts in gear
http://www.iaaf.org/sevilla99/index.asp
The most interesting coverage is by that company that has all the bizarre ads on TV and in magazines - quokka.com. For more on this here are some postings to the T&F mailing list from Dwight Stones
"Dear Listers,
Got the go ahead yesterday from my bosses at Quokka Sports to announce that from the World Championships of Track & Field in Seville, NBC's internet partner, Quokka Sports, will be providing a "real time" webcast of the events from Spain.
I will be the host and commentator for this webcast and it is my intention to cover as many heats and finals as possible within the confines of my television duties with NBC and Turner Sports. Seeing as I am "just" a field event analyst with both of those networks, I should have ample time to bring you the action from most of the events from the sprints through the 10,000m.
If you see a sudden, unexplained lapse in my coverage it will be because I have received a request from my television producer to do some work relative to the over the air broadcast. It may also be because I had to excusemyself for a little while to take care of some "other business." I will do my best to warn the people following along that I have something coming up that will cause a lapse of some length in my coverage but I will make it my goal to be certain that all finals come with uninterrupted commentary.
I will start this "live" webcast with the the Heptathlon 100m Hurdles at 10:05am local time in Seville. Spain is 6 hours ahead of EDT and 9 hours ahead of PDT. According to the schedule, most running event finals are scheduled between 7:30pm - 9:30pm local time. That would be between 1:30pm- 3:30pm on the East Coast (EDT) and between 10:30am - 12:30pm on the West Coast (PDT).
I am leaving for Sweden today to visit family along with my daughter and will arrive in Seville late on Wednesday, Aug. 18. The address for the site is:
There are a lot of interesting bits of information on the site including features and bios on many different athletes. This is the website for theSydney Olympics and most of the "analysts" will be doing "live" webcasting from Australia next year.
Quokka Sports was the company that did the Around The World Yacht Race where the actual participants were posting to the site during the event. The idea is to involve as many of the athletes as possible through features like the Athlete's Voice, where many of the athletes have recorded some of their thoughts relative to their events.
This is a work in progress as we prepare for next year's Olympics but the Track & Field World Championships is a major dress rehearsal where we will gain a lot of knowledge and make a lot of changes relative to our preparations for Sydney's live webcasting of most of the events on the Olympics program.
Feel free to visit the site and get familiar with how to navigate around it in preparation for the first day of competition from Seville on Saturday, August 21. Hope to see you there.
D W I G H T"
...however apparently the site is not entirely ready yet...
"I'm sorry for the confusion. It's my understanding, and I've made a call to clarify this, that you can't access the site until Saturday, August 21. If that is not the case and I am able to get the username and password for use prior to that, I will post same to this list.
Otherwise, assume that the first time you can access is on the 21st. No, it is NOT a pay site.
D W I G H T"
Sounds like this could be a REALLY cool way to get our PV fix.
Men's Qualifying Round Start Lists
| Group A | |||
| Athlete | Country | PR Imperial | PR Metric |
| Maxim Tarasov | Russia | 19-10 1/4 | 6.05 |
| Montxu Miranda | Spain | 18-11 1/2 | 5.78 |
| Heikki Vaaraniemi | Finland | 18-11 | 5.77 |
| Thibault Dubval | Belgium | 18-5 | 5.62 |
| Peter Spacek | Czech Republic | 18-4 1/2 | 5.60 |
| Okkert Brits | South Africa | 19-9 1/2 | 6.03 |
| Grigoriy Yegorov | Kazakhstan | 19-4 1/4 | 5.90 |
| Tim Lobinger | Germany | 19-8 1/4 | 6.00 |
| Fumiaki Kobayashi | Japan | 18-5 | 5.62 |
| Dmitriy Markov | Australia | 19-8 1/4 | 6.00 |
| Pat Manson | United States | 19-2 1/4 | 5.85 |
| Maurilio Mariani | Italy | 18-8 1/4 | 5.70 |
| Romain Mensil | France | 19-5 1/2 | 5.93 |
| Martin Eriksson | Sweden | 18-8 3/4 | 5.71 |
| Martin Kylesa | Czech Republic | 18-6 1/2 | 5.65 |
| Danny Ecker | Germany | 19-5 1/2 | 5.93 |
| Nick Hyson | United States | 19-2 1/4 | 5.85 |
| Group B | |||
| Athlete | Country | PR Imperial | PR Metric |
| Vadim Strogalyov | Russia | 19-2 1/4 | 5.85 |
| Jeff Hartwig | United States | 19-9 | 6.02 |
| Alexsandr Averbukh | Israel | 19-0 3/4 | 5.81 |
| Martin Voss | Denmark | 18-9 | 5.72 |
| Danny Krasnov | Israel | 18-10 1/4 | 5.75 |
| Jean Galfione | France | 19-8 1/4 | 6.00 |
| Jussi Autio | Finland | 18-4 1/2 | 5.60 |
| Patrik Kristiansson | Sweden | 18-11 | 5.77 |
| Jose Manuel Arcos | Spain | 19-0 1/4 | 5.80 |
| Michael Stolle | Germany | 19-4 3/4 | 5.91 |
| Igor Potapovich | Kazakhstan | 19-5 | 5.92 |
| Javier Garcia | Spain | 18-11 | 5.77 |
| Viktor Chistiakov | Australia | 19-4 1/4 | 5.90 |
| Dominic Johnson | St. Lucia | 18-6 1/2 | 5.65 |
| Trond Barthel | Norway | 18-9 | 5.72 |
| Stepan Janacek | Czech Republic | 18-6 1/2 | 5.65 |
| Kevin Hughes | Great Britain | 18-4 3/4 | 5.61 |
|
Athlete |
Country |
PR Imperial |
PR Metric |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Emma George |
Australia | 15-1 1/4 | 4.60 | WR |
|
Stacy Dragila |
United States | 15-0 3/4 | 4.59 | (ex) |
|
Yvonne Buschbaum |
Germany | 14-6 | 4.42 | WJR |
|
Pavla Hamackova |
Czech Republic | 14-3 1/4 | 4.35 | (i) |
|
Kellie Suttle |
United States | 14-7 1/2 | 4.46 | (i) |
|
Nicole Humbert |
Germany | 14-11 1/2 | 4.56 | (i) |
|
Vala Flosadottir |
Iceland | 14-7 1/4 | 4.45 | (i) |
|
Alejandra Garcia |
Argentina | 14-5 3/4 | 4.41 | |
|
Nastja Ryshich |
Germany | 14-9 1/4 | 4.50 | (i) |
|
Tatiana Grigorieva |
Australia | 14-9 1/4 | 4.50 | |
|
Melissa Price |
United States | 14-3 1/2 | 4.36 | |
|
Thorey Elisdottir |
Iceland | 14-3 1/2 | 4.36 | (i) |
|
Daniela Bartova |
Czech Republic | 14-9 1/2 | 4.51 | |
|
Anzhela Balakhonova |
Ukraine | 14-11 1/4 | 4.55 | |
|
Yelena Belyakova |
Russia | 14-7 1/2 | 4.46 | |
|
Dana Cervantes |
Spain | 13-11 1/4 | 4.25 | |
|
Elmarie Gerryts |
South Africa | 14-3 1/2 | 4.36 | |
|
Zsuzsa Zsabo |
Hungary | 14-9 1/2 | 4.51 | (i) |
The qualifying height was 14-3 1/4 (4.35). I think Dana Cervantes got a host country exemption.
1999 USATF ATHLETE BIOGRAPHIES
(written by Jeff Hollobaugh *note* these aren't super-current...)
Jeff Hartwig
Born: September 25, 1967, in St. Louis, Mo
Current Residence: Jonesboro, Ar
PRs: Pole Vault 19-9 AR (1999)
High School: Howell HS, St. Charles, Mo '85
College: Florissant Valley CC '87, Arkansas State '90
Height: 6-3
Weight: 185
Coach: Earl Bell
Agent: Hideshi Okamoto
Club: Nike
1982: best of 9-6.
1983: best of 11-0.
1984: best of 12-6.
1985: best of 14-6
- placed 3rd in Missouri state high school champs.
1986: best of 15-0.
1987: best of 16-1.
1988: best of 16-9.
1989: best of 17-6.25
- no-heighted in his first NCAA Indoor - made it to his only NCAA outdoor champs, but no-heighted in the qualifying round.
1990: best of 17-8.5
- no heighted in his second NCAA Indoor appearance.
1991: best of 17-6.5.
1992: best of 18-4.5
- placed 13th in the Olympic Trials.
1993: best of 17-6.5
- no-heighted in the qualifying round at the USA Champs.
1994: best of 18-5.5
- no-heighted at the USA Indoor - no-heighted in the finals of the USA Champs - won the Olympic Festival.
1995: best of 18-9.25
- tied for 9th at the USA Indoor - 7th in the USA Champsranked #9 in U.S. by T&FN - had arthroscopic knee surgery over the winter.
1996: best of 19-0.25
- started season with 18-4.5 at Reno Pole Vault Summit - the next day he broke a pole in practice, shattering his hand bones & spent seven weeks in a cast - runner-up in the Olympic Trials - tied for 11th in the Olympic final - ranked #4 in U.S. by T&FN.
1997: best of 19-2.25
- first season "in memory" that he didn't have any injuries early-on - 4th in the USA Champs - ranked #5 in U.S. by T&FN.
1998: best of 19-8.5
- won Prefontaine (5.92/19-5) - USA Champion at 19-2.25 (5.85) - the first American over 6-meters (19-8.25), a mark he cleared in St-Denis, France in June - improved that American record with his 19-8.5 to win the Goodwill Games - won seven Grand Prix meets, but placed 7th in GP Final - topped 19-feet in 22 out of 31 meets - ranked #2 in world by T&FN (#1 U.S.).
The Rest of the Story:
- Hartwig's career story has "Underdog" written all over it - never cleared 15-feet in high school - never cleared 18-feet in college - no college scholarship - while at Florissant Valley, coached by Norris Stevenson - didn't start lifting weights until college - coached by Guy Kochel while at Arkansas State - since graduation has worked with Earl Bell, a former world record holder (18-7.25 in 1976) - jumped his 1995 PR of 18-9.25 at Bell's 40th birthday competition - he and wife Karol raise boa constrictors and pythons for sale to pet stores - sometimes will have over 100 snakes on the premises - the couple also own six dogs - He says his goal for 1999 is: "To jump higher than I've ever jumped. I'd like to set an American indoor record and make the World Indoor team. Outdoors, because the pole vault is a Golden League event, I'm looking forward to repeating my consistency from last year, and hopefully finishing a little stronger at the end" - the prospect of being the first American over 20-feet is interesting, but not a big motivator for Hartwig. He says, "It's a mark along the way to the world record. It's been done before. I put more emphasis on the world record itself."
NOTE: Hartwig set a pending American Indoor Record of 19-4.75 at the Reno Pole Vault Summit on Jan. 23 and an American Outdoor Record 19-9 at the USATF Championships in June
Pat Manson
Born : November 29, 1967, in West Point, NY
Current Residence : Boulder, Co
PRs : Pole Vault 19-2.25 (1994 & 1997)
High School : Central HS, Aurora, Co '86
College : Kansas '91
Height : 5-10
Weight : 165
Coach : Rick Attig
Agent : Flynn Sports Management
Club : U.S. West
1984: best of 15-2.
1985: best of 16-8.75
- no-heighted at state meetwon USA Juniors.
1986: best of 18-0
- won Colorado HS state meet - 2nd in USA Juniorssilver at Pan-Am Juniors - no height at World Juniors.
1987: best of 18-0.53rd at NCAA.
1988: best of 18-6.5
- 5th at NCAA Indoor (17-9.75) - no-height in NCAA qualifying - tied for 2nd at USA Champs - tied for 17th in Olympic Trials qualifying.
1989: best of 18-8
- 2nd at NCAA Indoor (18-2) - 2nd at NCAAs - no-height at USA Champs.
1990: best of 18-4.5
- 2nd in NCAA Indoor (18-0.5) - no-height in qualifying at USA Champs.
1991: best of 18-8.25
- 2nd in NCAA Indoor (18-0.5) - 3rd in NCAA (18-8.25) - tied for 6th at USA Champs (18-0.5) - won gold at Pan-Am Games (18-0.5) - ranked #7 in U.S. by T&FN.
1992: best of 18-8.75
- tied for 6th in USA Indoor (17-8.5) - 8th in Olympic Trials (18-4.5) - ranked #9 in U.S. by T&FN.
1993: best of 18-10.25
- 5th in USA Indoor (18-1) - 4th in USA Champs (18-4.5) - ranked #3 in U.S. by T&FN.
1994: best of 19-2.25
- 4th in USA Indoor (18-4.5) - 6th in USA Champs (18-4.5) - ranked #10 in world (#4 U.S.) by T&FN.
1995: best of 19-0.25
- 13th in USA Indoor (18-0.5) - won Pan-Am Games gold (18-10.25 MR) - 6th in USA Champs (18-6.5) - ranked #10 in world (#3 U.S.) by T&FN.
1996: best of 19-0.25
- won USA Indoor (18-8.25) - 6th in Olympic Trials (18-8.25) - 5th in GP Final (18-8.25) - ranked #10 in world (#1 U.S.) by T&FN.
1997: best of 19-2.25
- tied for 3rd at USA Indoor (18-10.25) - 3rd at USA Champs (19-0.25) - 6th at World Champs (18-8.25) - 4th in GP Final (19-2.25 =PR) - ranked #6 in world (#1 U.S.) by T&FN.
1998: best of 19-0.75
- 3rd at USA Indoor (18-2.5) - 2nd in USA Champs (18-10.25) - 3rd at Goodwill Games (18-8.25) - 5th at Zurich's Weltklasse (19-0.25) - ranked #8 in world (#2 U.S.) by T&FN.
The Rest of the Story:
- started vaulting as a high school freshman - had gone out for track as a sprinter/long jumper saw the vault, and asked his coach if he could try it: "secretly he had wanted me to be a vaulter" - dad was a running back at Pitt; mother is a marathoner runner, and has even run the difficult Pikes Peak Marathon - married to distance runner Amy Legacki in March 1997 she still races, and also does motivational speaking for children, visiting many youth track clinics - Manson earned his degree in mechanical engineering, and works for U.S. West as a technology forecaster "It's a terrific job"is working to get a heavy training base down in 1999 so to be ready for the year 2000 - "I'm spending more time in the weight room. I ranked No. 1 in the U.S. in 96 and 97, and I'd like to get that back. With everyone else jumping so well, it's going to be a challenge." - says the low point in his career was the 1996 Olympic Trials, where his poles were run over by a truck and he had to vault on borrowed poles cleared the same height as 3rd-placer Scott Huffman, but ended up 6th on misses - "I love this sport. I feel very blessed to have the career that I have had, and there's still more to come."
Nick Hysong
Born : December 9, 1971, in Winslow, Ariz.
Current Residence : Phoenix, Ariz.
PR : 19-2.25 (1995)
High School : Tolleson (Ariz.) HS '90
College : Arizona State '94
Height : 6-1
Weight : 180
Coach : Greg Hull
Club : Nike
1999: Best of 19-0.25.
Placed second at USA Outdoor Championships with a vault of 18-6.5.
1998: Best of 18-8.25.
No-height at USA Outdoor Championship.
1997: Best of 18-7.25.
Placed ninth at USA Outdoor Championship. - Finished the season ranked ninth in the U.S.
1996: Best of 18-8.75.
Tied for 13th at U.S. Olympic Trials.
The Rest of the Story:
Placed second at U.S. Junior Championships in 1990. - Also that year, Hysong finished fourth at the U.S. Olympic Festival and sixth at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. - In 1991, as a freshman at Arizona State, Hysong placed second at the Pac-10 Championships, tied for 11th at the NCAA Championships, and fifth at the Olympic Festival. - As a sophomore in 1992, Hysong improved his PR to 18-1.25, along with finishing second at the Pac-10's and seventh at the NCAA Championships. - Hysong's best in 1993 was an 18-3.25 effort indoors. Also in '93, Hysong won the Pac-10 title, finished fifth at the NCAA Championships and tied for 16th at the USA Outdoor Championships. - As a senior in 1994, Hysong improved his PR to 18-8.25 along with finally winning the Pac-10 title, and NCAA outdoor championship. He finished the 1994 campaign ranked tenth in the U.S. - Hysong broke the 19-foot barrier for the first time in 1995 with a best of 19-2.25. He ended the season ranked seventh in the U.S. despite a no-height at the U.S. Nationals. - Hysong tied for 13th at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1996 and finished ninth at the U.S. Championships in 1997. He ended the 1996 season ranked ninth in the U.S. - In 1998, Hysong's best effort was 18-8.25, and he once again failed to clear a height at the national championships - Hysong received his B.S. degree in Marketing from Arizona State in 1997.
Stacy Dragila
Born : March 25, 1971, Auburn, Ca
Current Residence : Pocatello, Id
PRs : Pole Vault 15-0 3/4 (1999) exhibition, 14-11 1/4 (1999)
High School : Placer HS, Auburn, Ca '90
College : Yuba CC '92, Idaho State '95
Height : 5-7.5
Weight : 140
Coach : Dave Nielsen
Agent : Peter Stubbs
Club : Reebok
1994: best of 10-0.
1995: best of 12-1.5
- also 5240 for heptathlon - 2nd in heptathlon at Big Sky Champs - 2nd in PV at USA Champs (11-5.75) - jumped her 12-1.5 in the dual against Great Britain - ranked #2 in U.S. by T&FN.
1996: best of 13-9.25
- also 5291 heptathlon - won USA Indoor (13-5.25) - won USA Title (13-9.25 AR) - ranked #1 in U.S. by T&FN.
1997: best of 14-7.25
- also 5393 for heptathlon - won USA Indoor (13-1.5) - won World Indoor gold (14-5.25 = WR) - competed in a decathlon, scoring 5029 - won PV at USA Champs (14-1.75) - ranked #2 in world (#1 in U.S.) by T&FN.
1998: best of 14-8.75
- won USA Indoor (14-1.75) - jumped PR of 14-8.75 indoors to win at Sindelfingen - jumped outdoor best of 14-6 in May in Pocatello - runner-up at USA Champs (13-5.25) - no-height at Goodwill Games; MRI afterwards revealed a fractured navicular bone - ranked #6 in world (#1 in U.S.) by T&FN.
The Rest of the Story:
- under her maiden name of Mikaelson, she competed twice in the California state HS meet in the hurdles - placed 2nd in the 1990 Golden West meet in the 400H (63.70) - the late coach John Orognen recruited her to Yuba College and trained her for the heptathlon - as a junior at Idaho State, Dragila and the rest of the women heptathletes were told by coach Nielsen to try to vault over 6-feet - "I thought this was just dinking around," she says the learning process took a while. Says Dragila, "The first couple trillion times trying to go over the bar were pretty frightening for me" - when she cleared 10-feet indoors in 1994, she didn't know it was an American record until she read it in Track & Field News - graduated from Idaho State with a degree in physical education/health education - now pursuing masters in health education - also works as an assistant coach with the Idaho State track team, concentrating on the vault and the heptathlon - active with Big Brothers/Big Sisters - underwent surgery in late September to repair the fractured navicular bone in her foot - for 1999, she says, "We're going to play the indoor season by ear. I don't want to come back too soon. I'll probably skip most of the meets before nationals. If I don't make the World Indoor team, that's okay. Outdoors is much more important to me. I think 15-7 is a realistic goal. I also want to make that outdoor World Championships team."
Kellie Suttle
Born : May 9, 1973, in St. Peters, Mo
Current Residence : Jonesboro, Ar
PRs : Pole Vault 14-7 1/4 (1999)
High School : Howell HS, St. Charles, Mo '91
College : Florissant Valley JC '93; Arkansas State '96
Height : 5-7
Weight : 128
Coach : Earl Bell
Agent : Mark Wetmore
Club : Bell Athletics
1995: best of 12-2
- tied for 13th at USA Champs.
1996: best of 12-7.5
- tied for 6th at USA Champs.
1997: best of 12-9.5
- tied for 4th at USA Champs - ranked #5 in U.S. by T&FN.
1998: best of 14-0
- 8th at USA Indoor (11-11.75) - won USA Champs (14-0) - 6th at Goodwill Games (13-5.25) - ranked #2 in U.S. by T&FN.
The Rest of the Story:
- Suttle had been a long jumper prior to her conversion to the vault - she won the Missouri HS state title as a junior in 1990 and placed 4th her senior year - her prep PR was 18-7 - at Florissant Valley, she improved to 19-2.75 and placed 6th in the JUCO nationals in 1993 - earned her degree in communications with an emphasis on radio and TV production; now she is working on a second bachelors, this time in massage therapy - was working as a gymnastics instructor at a local facility where some of the Arkansas State vaulters came for workouts - Earl Bell, a former world record holder in the pole vault who runs a top vault training center, was looking for a female to coach - Jeff Hartwig, one of Bell's star pupils, asked Suttle if she wanted to try it - "I loved it right away. I did it off and on that first year, and since then I've been going non-stop. I had a really good coach from the beginning." - works full-time as an assistant manager at The Buckle in Jonesboro, which she describes as being a "Gappy-type" of clothes store - "It's the only place where I can set my hours around my training and travel and still make enough money to eat" - says her biggest moment so far was winning nationals in 1998 and making the Goodwill Games team - for 1999, says, "I'd like to jump 14-6 at least, and get as close as I can to 15-0. I'd like to make the World Championship team. I'm committed to this through the year 2000, and if everything's going well, there's no reason I'd pursue anything else."
Melissa Price
Born : September 20, 1977, in Visalia, Ca
Current Residence : Fresno, Ca
PRs : Pole Vault 14-3 1/4 (1998)
High School : Kingsburg, Ca '95
College : Fresno State '99
Height : 5-3
Weight : 120
Coach : Bob Fraley
1993: best of 10-6.
1994: best of 11-6.25
- won USA Champs (10-8) - ranked #1 in U.S. by T&FN.
1995: best of 13-1.75
- won USA Indoor (11-7.75) - won USA Champs (12-9) - won USA Juniors (13-1.75 AR) - ranked #1 in U.S. by T&FN.
1996: best of 13-6.25
- 2nd at USA Indoor (13-1.5 =CR) - 2nd in USA Champs (12-9.5) - won USA Juniors (13-3.5) - ranked #2 in U.S. by T&FN.
1997: best of 13-3.75
- 2nd in USA Indoor (12-9.5) - 2nd in USA Champs (13-1.5) - 14th in qualifying at World University Games (12-9.5) - ranked #2 in U.S. by T&FN.
1998: best of 14-3.5
- won WAC Indoor (13-3.5) - won NCAA Indoor (13-10 PR) - won WAC (14-3.5 PR) - no height in NCAA - 4th in USA Champs (13-5.25) - 7th in Goodwill Games (13-5.25) - ranked #3 in U.S. by T&FN.
The Rest of the Story:
- a former gymnast, Price started vaulting in 1993 - in 1995 she set 10 American records, indoors and outcoached in high school by Dave Crass - studying business accounting at Fresno State - is currently working an internship in an accounting firm... - also does volunteer community service with her accounting fraternity, Beta Alpha Psi - says, "I was happy with last season, even if there were a couple of injuries at the end. There were some struggles in my first two years at college, but I've got that ironed out now" - for 1999, she says, "I want to PR. But I also want to maintain that level that I hit last year, and jump a lot of 14-footers. I need to be consistent. I hope to compete in Europe this summer. It's hard to say what height I could hit: I'd like 14-7, or maybe 15-0. Of course, the eventual goal is to make the Olympic team."
Predictions from VaultnGus, Shawn Devereaux, Jason Hinkin, Bubba Sparks and other guest commentators...
First up the experts at Track & Field News give us their REVISED predictions
(They originally had Bubka finishing 10th before the news of his withdrawl...)
MEN
1. Maksim Tarasov (Rus)
2. Jeff Hartwig (US)
3. Tim Lobinger (Ger)
4. Dmitriy Markov (Aus)
5. Michael Stolle (Ger)
6. Danny Ecker (Ger)
7. Jean Galfione (Fra)
8. Vadim Strogalyov (Rus)
9. Nick Hysong (US)
10. Igor Potapovich (Kaz)
WOMEN
1. Stacy Dragila (US)
2. Anzhela Balakhonova (Ukr)
3. Tatiana Grigorieva (Aus)
4. Nicole Humbert (Ger)
5. Yvonne Buschbaum (Ger)
6. Yelena Belyakova (Rus)
7. Nastja Ryshich (Ger)
8. Emma George (Aus)
9. Vala Flosadóttir (Ice)
10. Daniela Bártová (Cze)
Bubba Sparks, Unfortunately did not get wind of the news or T&FN's revisions before he sent in his $.02 worth...
"Interesting that Bubka is predicted to finish 10th. I think nh, dns, or a medal. It's Tarasov, Hartwig, & Markov from T&FN. I think Hartwig, Tarasov, & Lobinger. They do pick Stacey to win."
Next up - Shawn Devereaux - perennial 2nd place finisher in predicitons contests...
IAAF World Championship Predictions
Men
1. Maksim Tarasov, Russia 6.10-20' 1/2"
Is there really any doubt? After a Marley or two, I could see a WR...
2. Dmitriy Markov, Australia 6.00-19'8 1/4"
Supposedly the only person who's put height over a WR of 6.15 other than Brits. Now that he's taken archrival Simon Arkell's NR away from him, he can focus on a his lesser goals of the WC and the Olympics.
3. Tim Lobinger, Germany 6.00-19'8 1/4"
Jumps really high, then jumps like shit. Last meet was schmidt, expect a high bar.
4. Jeff Hartwig, USA 6.00-19'8 1/4"
Inconsistent this year, but he'll get it up (so to speak) for only his 2nd major outdoor championship.
5. Danny Ecker, Germany 5.90-19'4 1/4"
Looks like he'll have to wait until he's out of puberty to jump 6 meters next season.
6. Romain Mesnil, France 5.90-19'4 1/4"
Romain will the the first Frenchman over 20', in 2001 unfortunately.
7. Jean Galfione, France 5.80-19' 1/4"
Suffering the same funk as Lobinger & Hartwig this year...except his schmidt days are really schmidtty...no heights.
8. Nick Hysong, USA 5.80-19' 1/4"
I was really expecting Nick to get over 5.90 this season, but he's been fairly consistent lately over 5.70. Unfortunately he'll have a good day, but it'll be in the best mass finish ever in the vault.
9. Montxu Miranda, Spain 5.80-19' 1/4"
The Spanish always jump well at home in big meets. Finally Miranda gets 5.80 after knocking on the door for 2 years.
10. Viktor Chistyakov, Australia 5.70-18'8 1/4"
Lot of distractions for Viktor past two weeks, but he appears to be back on track for next year.
11. Maurilio Mariani, Italy 5.70-18'8 1/4"
Nobody knows this guy, but he's quietly jumped 5.60-5.70 a dozen times this season, including a win over Stolle last week. Ante up a 4th =PR for Guido.
12. Michael Stolle, Germany 5.70-18'8 1/4"
What's with the hot and cold jumping this year? Like Crabs through a whorehouse, Stolle got it too.
Women
1. Anzhela Balakhonova, Ukraine, 4.61-15'1 3/4"
No one else has been consistently tossing around big bars except for Anzhela. Just when you thought you got rid of the Ukrainians, another one pops up.
2. Tatiana Grigorieva, Australia, 4.55-14'11 1/2"
Australia's best hope for gold next year.
3. Stacy Dragila, USA, 4.55-14'11 1/2"
Kinda been inconsistent, but usually pulls it together for the big comps.
4. Yelena Belyakova, Russia 4.50-14'9 1/2"
Never seen her jump, but she's really consistent around 4.35-4.40.
5. Nastja Ryshich, Germany 4.40-14'5 1/2"
She caught the men's funk (figuratively not literally) this outdoor season. Indoors, showed she could perform under pressure though.
6. Vala Flosadottir, Iceland 4.40-14'5 1/2"
Has kinda disappeared since the clearing 4.45 indoors.
7. Elmarie Gerryts, South Africa 4.30-14'1 1/2"
I could see her popping 4.40, but I'll go with the lower bar.
8. Zsusa Szabo, Hungary 4.30-14'1 1/2"
I don't remember seeing more than a handful of results this year from her, but this should be an easy mark for her.
9. Alejandra Garcia, Argentina 4.30-14'1 1/2"
Can this chick be the wild card?
10. Yvonne Bauschbaum, Germany 4.30-14'1 1/2"
The Teutonic Terror. Schmidt, is she even legal?
Emma George, Australia, scratch
Emma will realize mid-competition that she's no longer the darling of the women's vault and will fake an injury just like she did at Indoor Worlds. Sorry Emma, but no one cares unless you're hot.
Shawn also sent these predicitions from Larry Jessee
"Here's some predictions from El Paso Guru Larry Jessee. I'll forward his reports if he can get to a computer.
------------------------------------
off to Seville tommorrow with Kevin Hughes, the British Champion I have been coaching he pr'd at London G.P., I think he can make the finals, he was close in London at 5,70m in headwind. I will email you from training track if I can get to a computer. Anyway, my predictions for top three....
Tarasov..6.05
Hartwig....5.95
Markov...5.95...
Markov made 5.95 in Monte Carlo and passed 6.00m with a very, very close try at 6.05.
yours in vaulting, Larry Jessee"
And now - live from deep within the bowels of Europe, here's every parent's worst nightmare - Jason Hinkin
THE MASTERPIECE
Predictions for WC 99 Pole Vault
As always this is what WILL happen, and remember I am small and fragile so please don't hurt me if offended. Gus made me do it!!!! He is holding my beanie babies hostage!!!
Women
1. Stacy Dragila (US)-- As always I pick Stacy. That girl looks great even when she picks her uniform out of her butt after each vault. She is without a doubt the sexiest girl in this competition. Even if she is left handed. Stac, do not think I forgot about your bet we did at Fullerton. I made the bar. I am still waiting. See you soon!
2. Anzhela Balakhonova (Ukr)--Anzhela is a serious hottie. The Ukraine produced the hottest European Female. She jumps quite good as well, no idea about her sexual preference but she does shave her pits. Perhaps a future Screen Saver is in order. Pray for a panty shot during the coverage.
3. Tatiana Grigorieva (Aus)--The aussie implant will jump well despite getting ill from eating bad Koala Bear meat. The former Soviet will medal here. Then kick Emma in the shins, not sure why, it just sounds good. Thought she defected to Austria and marched in the wrong procession during the opening ceremonies.
4. Nicole Humbert (Ger)--Recently married, hmm. Never a good thing in my eyes. But reports are that her family likes to boo the competition during their vaults. If this can be confirmed look for a very harsh prediction...along the lines of -->Nicole will fail to get the top three and miss out on the cash she needed to support her growing crack habit that formed due to her abusive husband beating her for not having the record anymore. --But that is only the prediction if the rumor is true. Other than that she is a lovely person.
5 . Yelena Belyakova (Rus)--Had to stand in a bread line so she missed warm ups. But still will come in 5th, enough to get Russian sponsorship of 5,000,000 rubles ($8.21 US) and a bottle of Vodka half emptied by Boris Yeltsin. Will burn her uniform for heat during the off season. Gets great news upon returning that she has been purchased as a mail order bride by Tim Mack.
5. Yvonne Buschbaum (Ger)--She' s a man. She is like 17 and training to be a cop, the handcuffs may be a plus but the fact that she looks kinda butchy with a freak aspect makes me think that she is dating Toby Stevenson, who is also a freak, nice tattoo. She thought he was german when she heard Helmut.....only to realize that was not his name, rather the ridiculous piece of useless plastic strapped to his head that provides hours of great comments about his gender from people in the stands watching him. I am rambling. But I got to bag on Tob so that was cool.
7. Vala FlosadÛttir (Ice) -- Hi , my name is Vala...I am from ICELAND!!!! To busy ice fishing and clubbing baby seals to be a factor this year. A plus though is that she jumps in a Polar Bear skin two piece...look out Acuff! Question: where does one train in Iceland?. Pits are frozen so she lands on Humpback whales that she slaughtered in a religious ceremony. Greenpeace hates her. Worships Thor, God of Thunder. Stole Toby's helmet and put horns on it to make Viking hat. Drafted by Minnesota.
7. Nastja Ryshich (Ger)--Another cutie who will be distracted to jump high by the fact that her name gets spelled wrong all the time. Secretly has the hots for men who make web sites....and pole vault...with my name...who look like me. I love her name!
9. Emma George (Aus)--Hears the cry of a circus elephant in need and runs to a phone booth, puts on a clown out fit and flys to the rescue. Later found up a tree making that call that Paul Hogan does in Crocodile Dundee. Her favorite movie is "The Gods Must be Crazy".
9. Daniela B·rtov· (Cze)--I thought this girl was dead!
Everyone else will come to my house for a huge keg party with a "wear your favorite food" theme, mine is beer! That's a food! The post party will consits of a ritual dance in my honor where each lady vaulter will place a piece of undergarmet in a pint of beer and pour it on my body while shouting, "Melika kanna puhuahua na tomanufah" , which as we all know is the ancient language of the Vault Gods for "Praise be to the mighty Seer of the Vault". Which is of course me. The feast will be of roast swine and no utensils will be used as goblets runneth over in the juices from the vine. Only to be followed by a handstand contest like the US girls did. I loved that! You watch....it will happen!
MEN
1. Maksim Tarasov (Rus) 6.04m-- Maksim has been jumping too well lately to let Bubka win a 7th title. I hear he has been drinking tons of Vodka in preparation for urination on the medal stand. But still gets 2nd bill to Bubka. Secretly has a plan to have Sergey killed. Hobbies include beating everyone all the time and not looking like he will ever miss 5.90. Has to remind everyone that this is not his first major title, he did win the '92 Games you know. Remember, when NBC had that brilliant three channel package that only cost them a few billion in losses? Year of the, WE SENT WHO!!! and he came in fifth! When they had those two Idiot announcers who were only slightly more annoying than Rosanne, but less knowledgeable. Had to share uniforms with Belyakova. She was pissed.
2. Sergey Bubka (Ukr) 6.00m--Will most likely win and make me look stupid, then proclaim in his best Ivan Drago voice (ROCKY IV) "I must break you". This will be his last meet of the year as he returns to training for competitions that he never jumps in. That is if he jumps at all. You never know until the medals are given out. If he does pull out ( huh huh) expect him to break the world record in his next meeting.
3. Michael Stolle (Ger) 5.90m-- GERMANS LOVE DAVID HASSLEHOFF. That alone keeps him from victory. Will spend all his prize money on a KIT replica Trans Am from KNIGHT RIDER just so he can hear it say, "Michael, there's trouble ahead" . Turbo boosters didn't work that day. Has several traffic violations for tailgating black semi truck and yelling, "LOWER THE F%#$@%# RAMP". Will show up in a black naugahide (sp?) jacket, tight navy blue jeans, white collared shirt, and sunglasses.
4. Dmitriy Markov 5.90m (Aus)--Will claim his new black eye from a recent bar fight a hindrance on his performance. But you got to love the pole vaulters who tear it up in bars. Most likely to be drunk during the competition. Runs up a huge phone bill to sex lines and leaves without paying. Winner of the most likely to be mistaken for someone in shape award. He can loose a few.
5. Jeff Hartwig (US)5.90m--The greatest vaulter the US has ever produced!!! Will spend his time trying to explain that not EVERYONE from Arkansas kisses his sister and uses chewing tobacco as an aphrodisiac. But we all know most do. Sometimes uses his belt buckle for ID purposes. Lon Badeaux found near Jeff telling chicks he trains with him (but still doesn't score). Spotted using a can of Copenhagen for a step marker.
6. Tim Lobinger (Ger) 5.80m--Will get caught with photo of David Hasslehoff by Hysong in bathroom, uh you know. Tries to jump but his scrunchie falls loose and his fro will get caught on the standard so he hangs there for the rest of the comp. Already has a KIT car, and all of Hasslehoff's albums. And a few dolls.
6. Nick Hysong (US) 5.80m-- To busy throwing up after seeing Vadim and Tim naked. Trackgirls calendar found missing from bathroom after the incident. Nick will have no comment. Well done at Crystal Palace...you earned the ranking. I started you at 5.60 because even your bag said you sucked!! But you put the hurt on Europe that day. Make me look good here. Has a debate with the entire German side that the A- TEAM was a much better program. Later finds out his car was torched. READ ON !!!
8. Jean Galfione (Fra) 5.60m-- To busy combing hair to care about the meet. After all, anything done by those dirty Spaniards can't be worth competing in. Will then try to convince Hartwig that he really didn't hold his 6.00m indoors. (Beat out Stacey for best looking vaulter). Eats laughing cow cheese during the competition and breaks wind to check if there is a tail....right in Hysong's face, poor Nick! Tries to explain to Ecker that the chicken logo on french uniforms are really cool!
8. Vadim Strogalyov (Rus) 5.60m -- Will be caught Stroke-In-Off to the new Trackgirls Calendar by Nick (tough luck) in the bathroom before the meet. Will claim he was just taking a long pee. Says that the movie RED DAWN is the #1 reason he hates the US. This guy looks like every soldier that James Bond ever threw a poisoned pen at. Looks like Bubka but smaller, to me at least.
8. Danny Ecker (Ger) 5.60m--Too busy invading Spain and claiming it for the Fatherland to jump high. Has Baywatch taped during competition. Found wearing mom's clothes in the changing room. Claims it was for good luck (his mom was a STUD athlete). Spends the evening trying to convince Spanish girls his middle initial is "P".
10. Pat Manson (US) 5.60m--Way to be a real man and beat up on third world islanders in the Pan Am Games. Real hard to beat the cast of Gilligan's Island. Has a mental breakdown during the meet,heard screaming..."it's not my fault!!! Kansas made us wear PINK!!!" Seek help Pat, we can get through this. I think I heard him talking about hating dwarves. I am in trouble here, he reads this! Nick gets it too but I am not convinced that anyone who went to ASU can read.
11. Larry Jesse (Tex) 5.60m *AGE WR*-- Will jump in Texas and fax his results to Seville and somehow get it ratified as a legal mark for the event. In fact, he had it filmed by the Zebruter film company. Who cares if there is a few seconds missing and it looks like Kennedy got shot by two people. Works for us! Will test positive for alcohol. I just had to think of a way to get him in here to let everyone know that he has a hot wife.
12. Igor Potopovich (Kaz) 5.60--I have a photo of his butt. I owe him
some Vodka, so he makes the Final.
103. Dominic Johnson --DoJo..(StL) 1.80m-- Gets asked for credentials 414 times because no one believes this guy was an Olympian and World Champ participant---oh yea...he is from a chunk of dirt that fell off a real country. To busy shagging Jamaican sprinters to give a crap. But what does he care? He comes from a deserted island where he is the only pole vaulter. Who else would they send? Ginger? MaryAnn, the Billionaaaaaare ....and his wiiiife. But he did but he did beat Jussi Autio, who came in last.
Everyone else will test positive for Nandralone!
The men's post vault party will consist of childish "big pole" jokes and the ignighting of rectal gases. They are a little immature. Nick is the only one not in attendance, having left after the competition while humming a George Michael song...hmm.
I have spoken, so let it be written, so let it be done. For I am the mighty Son of Michael, seed of Zues, sacker of cities, drinker of mead, plunderer of castles, wooer of women, and oracle to the lifeblood of pole vault. Can I have my beanie babies back now Gus? It's late and I have to get to the store before it closes, as there is to much blood in my alcohol system!
Jason Hinkin
"never hit a man with glasses, use your fist"
Joe Drahota
And finally (drumroll please) what REALLY will happen. Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present the 1999 IAAF World Championships According to Gus
Alright ladies and gentlemen - what you've all been waiting for - the 1999 Outdoor Track and Field World Championships Pole Vault Final Predictions According to Gus!
I have no idea what the height progressions will be so I'm gonna guess...
First up - *the ladies* (man this one is gonna be tough)...
Shawn was right about one thing - this will be undoubtedly the greatets mass finish in the women's pole vault. SO MUCH TALENT IN THIS FIELD IT'S RIDICULOUS!
1. Stacy Dragila (USA) 15-3 1/4 (4.65) *WR*
Guess what - Stacy will win this one in a JUMPOFF 4th attempt clearance at this world record height. She always brings it to the big ones and I've seen footage of her 15-0 3/4 (4.59) at the Santa Barbara Beach Vault - she had plenty to spare. Chalk one up for the Yanks!
2. Anzhela Balakhonova (UKR) 15-1 1/4 (4.60)
Anzhela will go neck-to-neck with Stacy even tying the current WR int he process. Has been en fuego of late jumping over 14-7 1/4 (4.45) in 4 differnet meets this year. Cute too - before it got taken down a gentleman by the name of CatCapper had some great vidcaps of Anzhela on his site. Apparently he's a big fan of Track & Field especially the women's PV - he also had caps of Grigorieva, Humbert, Ryshich & George all from EuroSport. Maybe I could be convinced to post them...
3. Alejandra Garcia (ARG) 14-9 1/4 (4.50)
My sleeper pick. Garcia has quietly moved up the ranks this past year and has several 14-0+ meets to her credit. Won the Pan Am Games earlier this year. Not many of the gals here have seen her and I believe that's to her advantage. Will also be used to the hot weather of Seville since she trains in Buenos Aires.
4. Tatiana Grigorieva (AUS) 14-9 1/4 (4.50)
Sorry Emma - you won't be the top Aussie this year. Tatiana has been consistently over 14-0+ in almost every meet - 14-7+ three times. Wife of one of the other Aussie immigrants Dmitriy Markov or Viktor Chistyakov - I can never remember which. Tall and powerful.
5. Nastja Ryshich (GER) 14-7 1/4 (4.45)
The Germans were unstoppable indoors, but have been quite inconsistent outdoors. Nastja could boom a big one tho' and I mean a big one (15+). We'll have to see
6. Nicole Humbert (GER) 14-5 1/4 (4.40)
See above. Always dangerous. Some sources have her name hyphenated as Rieger-Humbert, but I refuse to do those hyphenations man 'cuz I'm a bad enough typist as it is. The all-time worst offender - Jill Wittenwyler. YIKES! WHen I first started this page she was plain ol' Jill Nuttbrock. Then she had the gall to do the hyphenation thing and I had to type out Wittenwyler-Nuttbrock every friggin' time she had a result. CARPAL TUNNEL! But I digress...
7. Elmarie Gerryts (SA) 14-5 1/4 (4.40)
Have never seen her jump but from her results she seems quite reliable.
8. Yelena Belyakova (RUS) 14-5 1/4 (4.40)
14-5 1/4 will get 8th place only for last year's Goodwill Games champion. Not meant as an insult by any means but this may be the skinniest person I have ever seen.
9. Kellie Suttle (USA) 14-5 1/4 (4.40)
Has boomed two HUGE PR's lately at her home office in Jonesboro at the Bell Athletics training center. Can she perform this well on the world stage? Heightwise I think so. Placewise - well unfortunately she gets gypped here...
10. Pavla Hamackova (CZE) 14-1 1/4 (4.30)
In Bartova's absence she piled up some impressive marks this winter and spring. Another one who I've never seen vault...
11. Daniela Bartova (CZE) 13-9 1/4 (4.20)
Daniela is still trying to get back into form after surgery over the winter.
12. Vala Flosadottir (ICE) 13-9 1/4 (4.20)
Has been having problems with injuries and if the TV coverage was correct fluctuating weight. A good technician but needs help on the runway - seems to lumber down...
13. Melissa Price (USA) 13-9 1/4 (4.20)
One of the originals and seems to keep improving every year. Finally seems to be on the big sticks. Hasn't jumped overseas much. Lack of international experience may cost her here.
And the rest :
Zsuzsa Szabo : Sorry Zsu, I just don't got the feeling. Has many HUGE marks but unfortunately someone has to bomb...
Yvonne Buschbaum : Was and/or is the World Junior Record Holder. Young turks get eaten for breakfast!
Thorey Elisdottir : She may be the Icelander to watch out for if Vala bombs...
Dana Cervantes : A quality vaulter but just out of her league here. Soon tho'
Emma George : The best (for now). Unfortunately I think that injury will play on her mind. She won't nh but I don't think we'll see any quality jumps. However, I could be drastically wrong...
And last but not least, the guys!
(I don't have an official startlist so in some cases I'm guessing as to who
is competing. Of course I don't have a height progression either...)
"Will there be any casualties in the qualifying round oh mighty VaultnGus?"
Yup - there always is. It will probably take 18-8 1/4 (5.70) to get into the
final. Who will bite it? Let's check the crystal ball...
Not any of the Germans - they'll all make it (Geez has that program improved
since '97....)
Let's see the first casualty is...
a Frenchman! Galfione and Mensil will make it through. Whoever the third is
(Andji? K. Laccheb? T. Laccheb? Vigneron? Quinon?) is doomed
next is...
an American - DOH! I hate saying this 'cuz all three of 'em will probably
read this. Sorry Pat. Nothin' against ya buddy - I just got a feeling.
Please prove me wrong
Any other major casualties? Viktor Chistyakov - whoever he decides to vault
for. I'm still mad at him for taking Tarasov's spot at the '96 Olympics.
And now for the final results...
1. Maxim Tarasov (RUS) 19-10 1/4 (6.05)
Seems to be a unanimous choice so guess what. I'm gonna change my predicition...
1. JEFF HARTWIG (USA) 20-0 1/4 (6.10)
Yeah Stu! The snake handler from Missouri will not only win the first gold medal in a major championship for the US since god knows when (1968 I think) he wil also have to break the 20 foot barrier to do so. Have heard reports that he uses poles that only Bubka used to be able to get on - stiff bastids! Is now very comfortable in the 6 meter range. Let's get it on J!
2. Maxim Tarasov (Rus) 19-10 1/4 (6.05)
Has really come into his own the past few years to try and erase Bubka's shadow. Intersting biomechanical analysis I overheard a few months back - apparently he puts the most energy into the pole at takeoff, but loses most of that energy with form breaks. Even though the vault looks unbelievably smooth on video, there are inherent problems that cause the loss of energy. They say a few more tweaks and he could be at 20-6!
3. Dmitriy Markov (Aus) 19-8 1/4 (6.00)
This guy is DANGEROUS! PR'd at the '96 Olympics at 19-2 3/4 going over the bar sidewyas and doing a twist. I guess he is now the official Australian Record holder but we all know who the real Aussie record belongs to - take a bow SImon. Fast with great body control. Used to get away from the pole too much on the rock back but seems to have corrected that problem. Another predicition - he will get the WR next year...
4. Igor Potapovich (Kaz) 19-8 1/4 (6.00)
4 over 6 meters? Yup. Igor should've had this height in '96 - he just barely missed at both 19-7 and 19-9 to almost steal the gold away from Galfione. Has always had the potential for tremendous height, but always runs into trouble landing on the bar. Always seems to peak for the big meets
5. Tim Lobinger (Ger) 19-6 1/4 (5.95)
This guy is a trip to watch. Has about 1000 different tics and seems to have bouts of Tourette's Syndrome ont he runway. A very entertaining jumper - never a dull moment. The Germans are just happy that Tiwontschik didn't make the team so they actually can send 3 real Germans to this meet.
6. Jean Galfione (Fra) 19-6 1/4 (5.95)
Thief! Stop Thief! Blatantly stole the World Indoor gold from Jeff on a holder. It's not his fault - the IAAF rules are totally vague. Jeff said it best "There's no one who is more against this rule than I am but a rule is a rule". Geez I'd love to see what would happen if King of the Underhand Holds Scott Slover had made the team.
7. Danny Ecker (Ger) 19-4 1/4 (5.90)
Another product of the amazing German system. Way too skinny to even be considered to have taken 'roids.For him it's in the genes...
8. Montxu Miranda (Spa) 19-0 1/4 (5.80)
Again I have to agree with Shawn here - the Spaniards alwyas get crazy on their home turf. Remember Garcia at the '92 Games - came out of nowhere to take the bronze. I always hoped that Garcia woul dbreak the 19-0 barrier but I guess it's not to be.
9. Grigoriy Yegorov (Kaz) 19-0 1/4 (5.80)
After a few years layoff he's back. Never seemed to be able to do much better than 19-0 1/4 (5.80). Got a jump better than that here or there but almost every meet it was 5.80, 5.80, 5.809....Stole the bronze from Earl Bell in '88.
10. Michael Stolle (Ger) 19-0 1/4 (5.80)
Rounds out the top 10 - all over 19-0 1/4! Caused quite a fashion stir at the '96 Olympics by wearing a half tank top and 3 different bandanas on his arms. Incredible takeoff.
And the others.....welll there's just too many to mention but watch out for these dudes:
Nick Hysong (US), Maurilio Mariani (Italy), Patrik Kristiansson (Sweden),
Alexsandr Averbukh (Israel), Christian Tamminga (Netherlands)
Men's Qualifying Round Results
(Tuesday August 24th)
"HARTWIG IS OUT!!! AT 5.55m 18-2 1/2
He made 5.55m on his first and was looking quite good...On his first attempt at 5.70 (after a pass at 5.65m) he planted and lost his grip. The pole slammed into his knee. He spent several minutes on the pit in pain. He was unable to put a decent jump together after that.
Jason Hinkin"
I wonder if TBS will show any coverage of the qualifying round tonight (12:35-2:35am EST) - I want to see exactly what happened on Hartwig's first jump at 5.70. A very sad day indeed. Sorry Stu.
Apart from our 2nd American Pat Manson and Vadim Strogalyov (and did-not-starts Girgoriy Yegorov and Viktor Chistyakov) Jeff was the only 19-0 1/4 + jumper not to advance to the final. All the major contenders are still in and all the pretenders have been sent home.
Germany leads with all 3 of their vaulters making the final. Countries with two finalists include France and Israel. ISRAEL?!?!?!? Talk about bizarre. Danny Krasnov always seems to make the finals of major events without having any major jumps behind him. He is the Asko Peltoniemi of the 90's (This Finn never cleared more than 18-8 1/4 (5.70) yet made the finals of at least 2 Olympics and numerous WC's in the 80's). Recent Russian expatriate Alexsandr Averbukh was the 2nd. Here's the shocker - Israel has as many jumpers in the final as all the old Soviet Bloc countries combined! Russia and Kazakhstan represent the region with one each (Although if you want to be nitpicky both Krasnov, Averbukh and Danny Markov are Soviet immigrants... ). Even the good ol' USA could only manage one finalist - Nick Hysong.
The host country is represented by Montxu Miranda who has looked like he has been ready to bust a big one for two years now. Could happen in front of the enthusiastic (to Spaniards) and/or hostile (to everyone else) home crowd
Who made it by the skin of their teeth (i.e. third attempt clearances at 18-6 1/2) - Tim Lobinger, Romain Mensil, Okkert Brits and the aforementioned Danny Krasnov.
Automatic Qualifier : 18-10 1/4 (5.75)
5.70 = 18-8 1/4; 5.65 = 18-6 1/2; 5.55 = 18-2 1/2; 5.40 = 17-8 1/2
Group A - Tuesday, August 24, 1999 - 19:30
Pos Bib Athlete Country Mark
1 1267 Tarasov Maksim RUS 5.70 q
1 56 Markov Dmitriy AUS 5.70 q
1 576 Ecker Danny GER 5.70 q
4 1478 Hysong Nick USA 5.70 q
5 486 Mesnil Romain FRA 5.70 q
6 607 Lobinger Tim GER 5.70 q
7 379 Miranda Montxu ESP 5.65 q
8 1203 Brits Okkert RSA 5.65 q
9 1489 Manson Pat USA 5.55
9 1360 Eriksson Martin SWE 5.55
11 446 Vääräniemi Heikki FIN 5.55
11 310 Spacek Petr CZE 5.55
13 97 Duval Thibaut BEL 5.40
13 317 Kysela Martin CZE 5.40
15 792 Mariani Maurilio ITA 5.40
916 Yegorov Grigoriy KZK DNS
839 Kobayashi Fumiaki JPN NM
Athlete 540 555 565 570 575
Tarasov Maksim - - - O -
Markov Dmitriy - O - O -
Ecker Danny O O O O -
Hysong Nick - - XXO XO -
Mesnil Romain - O - XXO -
Lobinger Tim O XXO XO XXO -
Miranda Montxu O XXO XO XX-
Brits Okkert O O XXO XXX
Manson Pat - O XXX
Eriksson Martin - O XXX
Vääräniemi Heikki O XXO XXX
Spacek Petr O XXO XXX
Duval Thibaut O XXX
Kysela Martin O XXX
Mariani Maurilio XO XXX
Kobayashi Fumiaki XXX
Group B - Tuesday, August 24, 1999 - 19:30
Pos Bib Athlete Country Mark
1 620 Stolle Michael GER 5.70 q
1 914 Potapovich Igor KZK 5.70 q
3 476 Galfione Jean FRA 5.70 q
4 752 Averbukh Aleksandr ISR 5.65 q
5 758 Krasnov Danny ISR 5.65 q (SB)
6 1467 Hartwig Jeff USA 5.55
7 355 Arcos José Manuel ESP 5.55
8 1322 Johnson Dominic STL 5.55
9 1265 Strogalyov Vadim RUS 5.55
9 431 Autio Jussi FIN 5.55
11 370 García Javier ESP 5.40
11 332 Voss Martin DEN 5.40
13 539 Hughes Kevin GBR 5.40
14 313 Janacek Stepán CZE 5.40
14 1600 Kristiansson Patrik SWE 5.40
1234 Chistyakov Viktor AUS DNS
1097 Barthel Trond NOR NM
Athlete 540 555 565 570 575
Stolle Michael - O - O X
Potapovich Igor - O - O
Galfione Jean - XO - O X
Averbukh Aleksandr - O O - X
Krasnov Danny - O XXO - X
Hartwig Jeff - O - XXX
Arcos José Manuel XO O XXX
Johnson Dominic O XO XXX
Strogalyov Vadim - XXO XXX
Autio Jussi O XXO XXX
Voss Martin O XXX
García Javier O XXX
Hughes Kevin XO XXX
Kristiansson Patrik XXO XXX
Janacek Stepán XXO XXX
Barthel Trond XXX
| Athlete | Country | PR Imperial | PR Metric |
| Danny Krasnov | Israel | 18-10 1/4 | 5.75 |
| Okkert Brits | South Africa | 19-9 1/2 | 6.03 |
| Romain Mensil | France | 19-5 1/2 | 5.93 |
| Maxim Tarasov | Russia | 19-10 1/4 | 6.05 |
| Danny Ecker | Germany | 19-5 1/2 | 5.93 |
| Montxu Miranda | Spain | 18-11 1/2 | 5.78 |
| Alexsandr Averbukh | Israel | 19-0 3/4 | 5.81 |
| Tim Lobinger | Germany | 19-8 1/4 | 6.00 |
| Jean Galfione | France | 19-8 1/4 | 6.00 |
| Michael Stolle | Germany | 19-4 3/4 | 5.91 |
| Danny Markov | Australia | 19-8 1/4 | 6.00 |
| Igor Potapovich | Kazakhstan | 19-5 | 5.92 |
| Nick Hysong | United States | 19-2 1/4 | 5.85 |
Men's Final Results
(Thursday August 26th)
Women's Final Results
(Saturday August 21st)
 Stacy Dragila's Winning Jump of 15-1 (4.60). This jump tied Emma George's World Record |
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