http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/a ... _headlinesEight elite to compete in second Street Vault
By Kevin Patton (Contact)
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Eight elite pole vaulters will be competing for the $1,250 first-place prize in today's Jammin' and Jumpin' Street Vault on the Henderson riverfront.
The second annual event, which also has age divisions from 14-and-under through high school, college and masters, had 38 entries as of Friday afternoon. Organizers expect a few competitors to register today.
The competition begins at 9:30 a.m. on Water Street between Second and Third streets.
Keith Hobson, one of the event's organizers, expects that high gas prices may have kept some of last year's entries from returning for this year's competition but they still are likely to see more than the 40 entries from last year's inaugural street vault.
The elite competition, which will include some vaulters who competed in the U.S. Olympic trials, will begin in the late afternoon. "It just depends on how long the other divisions take, but we'll probably start with the elites between 4-5 p.m.," Hobson said.
A couple of elite vaulters have withdrawn because of injuries. Jacob Pauli of Iowa, who finished fifth in the Olympic trials, is unable to compete because of a pulled hamstring. Becky Holiday, who won the 2005 NCAA championship at Oregon, had planned to attend but suffered a back injury.
The field still includes Jeremy Scott, who was sixth in the Olympic trials, and Jillian Schwartz, who was fourth in the women's trials. Both live in Arkansas.
Returning from last year are Louisville native and University of Oklahoma vaulter Chip Heuser and University of Missouri sophomore Brian Hancock, who won last year's local competition with a vault of 17-6.
The street vault is held in conjunction with Bluegrass in the Park.
What elites have signed on so far?