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Ok me and my fellow teamates had this discussion earlier this week, and I'd like to know what you all think of the new Regional qualifying format that was created last year. I personally have mixed feelings. I think its good that it allows more vaulters the opportunity to go to nationals if they come through in the clutch, but at the same time, you have to hold your peak for a couple of weeks. Anyway, just trying to get a new topic up here.

What are the new standards???? once i know, i'll share my very very important opinion......

Its 5 meters, or 16'5" for men, but i'm not sure about women. I think another 10 cm up from last year. But yea, 10 cm up will help to thin out the crowds, but i still think it should be 5.20 min for men. Nobody that hasn't jumped 5.20 has any business at nationals and it was very sad to see that the east and Midwest last year sent some guys that hadn't jumped 17'.

the interesting thing though is that Brent warner (Duke, East region), still made all american by opening at or above his PR both days out in sacremento. You gotta give the kid some credit for doing that in conditions that caused a lot of no heights. I think that since the top guys are taken care of, that it makes it interesting to see how the meets pan out. Like how in basketball the number one team in the country can get knocked out quick if they dont play well every day. Just my 2 cents.

also to note::: i think the east will have a better showing this year. im not claiming were gonna be texas like, but i think we will be more respectable.

VTechVaulter wrote:also to note::: i think the east will have a better showing this year. im not claiming were gonna be texas like, but i think we will be more respectable.

I am sure Florida will do a better job of hosting, and the weather is more likely to cooperate in Gainesville.

yeah. for sure. last year it rained through about the first 15 competitors at the opening height, including yours truely. although that wasn't my problem. i just sucked it up bigtime. but yeah, def. excited for florida

I still like the regional system, but i just think it sucks that in the west its gonna take 17'6"-17'8" to make the show for the guys. The line up in the west this year and now for the next 2-3 years is absolutely ridicuolous.

tell em to transfer. i like it gives me one more meet than before (LSU this year) . i think it betters our sport, it makes for better more fierce competition and strengthens athletes' marks. if u have to jump 17-6 to make it out of regionals thenu'll have to jump well continually to make nationals. Also its called nationals not western-als, we wont discuss the multiple advantages to going to a school out west, but i think nationals should be more representative and conclusive. i'll remind u all that the admit 40% more athletes than before.

The regional system is good, in that, it gives more jumpers the opportunity to make NCAA's. Although, ultimately it dilutes the field. I don't feel that someone with a 17' pr who made it through regionals at or around the same height belongs at NCAA's. Don't get me wrong, 5.20 is a good jump, and congratulations if you jumped at or around your PR at Regionals. Still the fact remains, it's a 17' (for example) jumper. I think most people will agree that the NCAA's is for the most elite college jumpers in the country, not number 32 on the list.

The entire point of regionals is to encourage head-to-head competition and not mark chasing. Since the institution of auto qualifying marks and the decline in scored meets, interest in collegiate T&F has been going steadily downhill.

It wasn't that long ago that the NBA finals were tape delayed to show the NCAA T&F championships live (1982), and if regionals can help just a tiny bit towards getting the sport back on track, then you can leave the guys who can't get it up when it counts at home. I won't miss them.

Who's interest are you talking about? Regionals does nothing for the fans interest, but showcase lesser jumpers at the NCAA's. Or would you be talking about the interest of vaulters who can't quite make the "grade". For them, this is a great system. Problems in collegiate Track and Field are bigger than qualifying marks. You need to start with the fact that Track and Field is not fan friendly for the television networks. In that case, the fields need to be reduced to the very best 10-12, not increased with hoards of jumpers. People mark chase in Track and Field, that is the nature of the sport, especially the pole vault. I think most vaulters would agree that they'd rather PR at a meet and get 4th, rather than jump a foot below their PR and get 2nd.