World University Games--Men

[roger/over]

The men's finals go tomorrow. There was no qualifying round, since there were only sixteen entries. When I saw that none of these were from the USA, I was distracted from this post of the competitors in the vault finals by remembering that there were no USA entries in the women's vault; then distracted to wondering whether the U. S. had a team, at all, in the World University Championships, and if not, why not; then by wondering whether the U. S. had ever competed in this meet.

Before I get too far away from the intended post, though, here are the athletes who will contest the World University Vault Championships and their seasonal bests:

SUI - SCHUETZ Patrick 5.35
SLO - POLJANEC Andrej 5.70
FIN - KIVIOJA Jarno 5.30
RUS - KIVALOV Leonid 5.60
GRE - SYNTICHAKIS Nikolaos 5.35
GER - STRAUB Alexander 5.62
THA - SINGTHONGHOM Pichitphon 5.50
EST - SIIMU Eigo 5.25
RUS - STARODUBTSEV Dmitry 5.70
ISR - OLHOVSKY Yavgeniy 5.35
GER - SCHERBARTH Tobias 5.52
UKR - REVENKO Vladyslav 5.60
SUI - FREY Olivier 5.30
IRI - RABBANI Mohammadmohsen 5.35
CAN - WURSTER Jason 5.36
THA - SAOMBANKUAY Sompong 5.10

As to the other questions I had:

My check on whether the U. S. had a team entered in the World University Champs was to see if they had any entries in other events where are traditionally dominant (e.g., 100m, hurdles, shot put, etc.). Nothing there.

My check on whether the U. S. had ever entered athletes in this event seemed easiest by checking the meet records. Yes, there were still-standing meet records by U. S. athletes; although a very quick look didn't see any more recent than 1996.

Which leaves me with my final question--that of why the USATF chooses not to contest this meet. I find that a very difficult question, indeed. Even if one can accept the inference that a cash-strapped USATF can't afford to send teams to every world championship event, it is difficult to understand why this event is regarded as expendable: especially given the important circumstances of collegiate competition in high-level track and field development in that country. Most other countries encourage and financially support independent clubs for that development. The contribution of clubs to post-secondary development in the U. S. is miniscule. That phase of athlete development is assigned to college and university track programs. Why, then, is this contribution not recognized by entry in world championships at this level? And if the USATF won't accept responsibility to fund this participation, why isn't opportunity given for direct university support; perhaps by permitting USA entrants to wear their university vests to show where their excellence originates?

[rainbowgirl28]

My check on whether the U. S. had a team entered in the World University Champs was to see if they had any entries in other events where are traditionally dominant (e.g., 100m, hurdles, shot put, etc.). Nothing there.

My check on whether the U. S. had ever entered athletes in this event seemed easiest by checking the meet records. Yes, there were still-standing meet records by U. S. athletes; although a very quick look didn't see any more recent than 1996.

Which leaves me with my final question--that of why the USATF chooses not to contest this meet. I find that a very difficult question, indeed. Even if one can accept the inference that a cash-strapped USATF can't afford to send teams to every world championship event, it is difficult to understand why this event is regarded as expendable: especially given the important circumstances of collegiate competition in high-level track and field development in that country. Most other countries encourage and financially support independent clubs for that development. The contribution of clubs to post-secondary development in the U. S. is miniscule. That phase of athlete development is assigned to college and university track programs. Why, then, is this contribution not recognized by entry in world championships at this level? And if the USATF won't accept responsibility to fund this participation, why isn't opportunity given for direct university support; perhaps by permitting USA entrants to wear their university vests to show where their excellence originates?

They wouldn't be allowed to wear college gear, but it is ridiculous that USATF won't even allow athletes to pay their own way to this meet. The definition of a University athlete is pretty loose, basically any athlete taking any kind of classes could go, including those who have exhausted their NCAA eligibility. There are emerging elite athletes who would pay their own way to go to the meet because it is worth big points in the IAAF rankings.

Yet we send a team to worthless meets like the Decanation meet...

[roger/over]

World University Games
Men's PV Final -- 12 August


1 RUS - KIVALOV Leonid 01/04/1988 5.60
1 GER - STRAUB Alexander 14/10/1983 5.60
3 RUS - STARODUBTSEV Dmitry 03/01/1986 5.50
4 GER - SCHERBARTH Tobias 17/08/1985 5. 50
5 CAN - WURSTER A. Jason 23/09/1984 5.40 SB
6 SUI - SCHUETZ Patrick 16/03/1983 5.25
7 SLO - POLJANEC Andrej 10/11/1984 5.25
8 IRI - RABBANI Mohammadmohsen 18/04/1983 5.25
9 FIN - KIVIOJA Jarno 07/10/1982 5.10
9 GRE - SYNTICHAKIS Nikolaos 5.10
11 EST - SIIMU Eigo 16/01/1983 5.10
12 UKR - REVENKO Vladyslav 15/11/1984 5.10
13 ISR - OLHOVSKY Yavgeniy 22/12/1983 4.90
14 THA - SAOMBANKUAY Sompong 23/07/1983 4.70
SUI - FREY Olivier 11/02/1979 NM
THA - SINGTHONGHOM Pichitphon 31/05/1987 NM

[VTechVaulter]

wow straub is having a great year. i believe that is his 5th meet of the season over 5.60, and a bunch of 5.50s. really nice guy too