Bubba Mclean Article

[Bruce Caldwell]

http://www.mauinews.com/sports/story/07 ... an0712.asp


McLean fails to clear opening height in finals


SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Maui's Robert ''Bubba'' McLean's quest for an Olympic pole vault spot will have to wait four more years.

McLean advanced to Sunday's finals by clearing the 17-8 1/2 in Friday's preliminaries at the Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex in Sacramento. On Sunday, however, McLean made three attempts at the opening height of 17-8 1/2 and ''either knocked it (crossbar) down at the top or on the way down.''
The Bell Athletics team member was the only qualifier who no-heighted on Sunday. Two others, McLean's best friend, Daniel Ryland, and Keenan King, were the only vaulters to jump the opening height.

The other 10 finalist passed on the opening height and came in at 18-0 1/4, where Ryland and King were eliminated.

''This is the best I've felt all year,'' McLean said. ''I was jumping on the biggest

pole I've ever

been on and it's frustrating because I felt ready on the right day.''

McLean said he was using the same pole that helped him record his personal best height of 18-8 1/2 two weeks ago.

''I was running faster than I ever have before and felt better than I ever have,'' McLean said. ''I was relaxed and confident, and it's too bad that it didn't translate to a good height. But that's how it goes in the pole vault. I'm not disappointed, because I came here and I feel good that I left it all out there on the track and I didn't cave in.''

McLean's former prep coach, Allen Duarte of St. Anthony High School, was one of more than a dozen friends and family members in attendance Sunday. He talked with McLean after the competition and said the Kula resident was upbeat.

''He was actually very encouraged. Because, if anything, he realizes that he's continuing to make progress in the event and that he belongs with the elite vaulters in the nation,'' Duarte said.

Timothy Mack, the 2001 Goodwill Games gold medalist, won the event with a height of 19-4 1/4. The 2004 world leader Toby Stevenson was second in 19-2 1/4, while Derek Miles, who missed the 2000 Olympic Team in a jumpoff, was third at 19-0 1/4.

McLean's next season starts this week in Europe, where he will compete in five meets before returning home Sept. 1.

''I'm getting so close, I feel like a lot of good things are going to happen in Europe,'' McLain said.