Pickens wins NAPVA Circuit, Holliday 15-0
Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 11:06 am
http://www.fresnobee.com/sports/story/103818.html
All revved up in Clovis
'Pole-a-palooza' has fans, athletes give it all they've got at vaulting spectacle.
By Lisa Houk / The Fresno Bee
08/04/07 04:29:30
The "Pole-a-palooza" has reached new heights in Clovis.
With rock music blaring and the 8,000-plus fans cheering and clapping, the 20 world-class pole vaulters went at it for 41/2 hours like never before at the North American Pole Vault Championships on Friday in Clovis. The fine-tuned athletes shook off the 101-degree heat and raced down the runway at high speeds.
"This is just great, it's one of our best years ever with seven of the men clearing 17 feet, 6 inches already," said co-meet director Brian Yokoyama, just three hours into the 13th annual street vault. "And the women vaulters are going strong with three of them still alive at 14 feet."
Indeed, the women vaulters stole the show. First, Andreé Pickens cleared 14 feet to collect the $5,000 prize for winning the overall Grand Prix title among the women and men. The 27-year-old gymnast-turned-pole vaulter finished as the North American Pole Vault Association points leader.
"I came in expecting to clear 14-0 and I tried to go 14 feet, 6 inches, but it would've been nice to hit my PR of 14-10," said Pickens, who beat out Paul Litchfield for the money and the title. "Paul had to go 18-6 to win it, but even though we were No. 1 and 2, we still have a great time."
Becky Holliday, 27, won her third straight title at the Clovis event, flying over the 15-foot mark for a personal record. She went for the meet record of 15-13/4, but clipped the bar on her third and final attempt.
"It took three years to make my PR of 15 feet, but I love it here," Holliday said. "The crowd gets you over the bar and is the reason we make it. I'll be back next year."
Korean record holder Yoo Kim, Merced native Mike Landers and veteran Justin Norberg all missed at 18-6 to finish the men's event. Litchfield, 26, missed on his third and final attempt at 18 feet.
Giovanni Lanaro, one of the top-10 vaulters in the world, barely got warmed up before he was out of the running. Lanaro, the Mexican record holder at 19-1, fell out of the competition early after failing to clear 18-0. He was using the Clovis event to prepare for the World Championships on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 in Osaka, Japan.
"I usually come in and start jumping at 17-8 or 18 feet, but I really couldn't find my rhythm at the end of the runway," said Lanaro, who will compete for the Mexican National Team at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
All revved up in Clovis
'Pole-a-palooza' has fans, athletes give it all they've got at vaulting spectacle.
By Lisa Houk / The Fresno Bee
08/04/07 04:29:30
The "Pole-a-palooza" has reached new heights in Clovis.
With rock music blaring and the 8,000-plus fans cheering and clapping, the 20 world-class pole vaulters went at it for 41/2 hours like never before at the North American Pole Vault Championships on Friday in Clovis. The fine-tuned athletes shook off the 101-degree heat and raced down the runway at high speeds.
"This is just great, it's one of our best years ever with seven of the men clearing 17 feet, 6 inches already," said co-meet director Brian Yokoyama, just three hours into the 13th annual street vault. "And the women vaulters are going strong with three of them still alive at 14 feet."
Indeed, the women vaulters stole the show. First, Andreé Pickens cleared 14 feet to collect the $5,000 prize for winning the overall Grand Prix title among the women and men. The 27-year-old gymnast-turned-pole vaulter finished as the North American Pole Vault Association points leader.
"I came in expecting to clear 14-0 and I tried to go 14 feet, 6 inches, but it would've been nice to hit my PR of 14-10," said Pickens, who beat out Paul Litchfield for the money and the title. "Paul had to go 18-6 to win it, but even though we were No. 1 and 2, we still have a great time."
Becky Holliday, 27, won her third straight title at the Clovis event, flying over the 15-foot mark for a personal record. She went for the meet record of 15-13/4, but clipped the bar on her third and final attempt.
"It took three years to make my PR of 15 feet, but I love it here," Holliday said. "The crowd gets you over the bar and is the reason we make it. I'll be back next year."
Korean record holder Yoo Kim, Merced native Mike Landers and veteran Justin Norberg all missed at 18-6 to finish the men's event. Litchfield, 26, missed on his third and final attempt at 18 feet.
Giovanni Lanaro, one of the top-10 vaulters in the world, barely got warmed up before he was out of the running. Lanaro, the Mexican record holder at 19-1, fell out of the competition early after failing to clear 18-0. He was using the Clovis event to prepare for the World Championships on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 in Osaka, Japan.
"I usually come in and start jumping at 17-8 or 18 feet, but I really couldn't find my rhythm at the end of the runway," said Lanaro, who will compete for the Mexican National Team at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
