Another article from a few days ago:
http://www.mlive.com/sports/grpress/ind ... xml&coll=6
Bar raised for Grand Haven Beach Vault
Thursday, July 13, 2006
By Jeff Chaney
The Grand Rapids Press
The climbing number of participants keeps raising the bar for the Grand Haven Beach Vault.
When Rockford pole vault coach Kevin Patterson and East Kentwood coach Dave Emeott first started the friendly pole-vault competition on Grand Haven City Beach five years ago, it was a one-day and one-runway event that drew 75 jumpers to the pole vault pit built on the Lake Michigan sand. Those jumpers were mostly from West Michigan.
This year's Beach Vault, which begins Friday and ends Saturday, will have nearly 220 participants from all over the United States competing on two runways.
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The high school and junior jumpers take to the sand beginning at 10 a.m Friday. The Saturday lineup consists of masters, college and elite jumpers and begins at 9:30 a.m.
"The best surprise is the number of out-of-state competitors that make this a family vacation," Patterson said. "It really has become a true event.
"With us living here, we don't realize the treasure we have with the lake and the nice sand. People from Missouri, Arkansas and Georgia, who compete in the Beach Vault, they tell us how nice the lake is and what a great event it is.
It is that word of mouth, and an appearance on ESPN last year, that is pushing the number of jumpers to a limit.
Second runway added
Last year Patterson added the second runway and a second day. Another runway or day of competition would be needed if the numbers continues to climb.
"Adding another runway was the only way to handle the increased demand," Patterson said. "We can get a little bigger, but not much bigger. We would have to go to three days if we got larger, and counting on three days of good weather is tough. The other thing would be to go to three runways, and that is a major chore."
Some of the top competitors coming this year are Jeremy Scott and Dub Jones of Bell Athletics in Arkansas. Scott has cleared 18 feet, 5 inches, while Jones has jumped 17-8.
Former Forest Hills Central and current Grand Valley jumper Scott Levering has competed in the first four Beach Vaults, and plans on taking part in every one from here on out.
"Pole vault in the area has really grown because of Kevin and Dave Emeott," Levering said. "They get kids really fired up about pole vaulting, and it shows with this.
"It is a really fun sport; they say you can catch the pole vault bug. Pole vaulting is a huge sport. If you don't know anything about it, it will mean nothing to you, but there is a big network out there."
Other college athletes competing are Grand Valley's Rachel Duthler (Calvin Christian) and Bethany Hecksel (Rockford) and Central Michigan's Janine Rosloniec (Rockford) and Stacey Schaeffer (Coopersville)
Sparta's Lisa Krupp, who will jump at Western Michigan this year, will compete in her last high school division jump. She is the defending two-time Division 2 state champion in the event.
"I'm not surprised with how big this has gotten," Krupp said. "If you come once and see how special and unique it is you have to come again -- it is something to see. We draw so many people that just want to see what is going on at the beach."