2010 Kansas Relays to feature "Vaulting for Dollars"

[PV Official]

http://www.kuathletics.com/sports/c-tra ... 10aaa.html

2010 Kansas Relays to Feature "Vaulting for Dollars" Event


April 15, 2010
LAWRENCE, Kan. -
This year at the Kansas Relays, athletes in the Invitational women’s pole vault event will have more to gain than a just the title of Relays champion. The six elite athletes entered in the event have an opportunity to make a profit on Saturday, as they will be “vaulting for dollars.”

Each bar the athletes clear will be worth a set dollar amount. The opening height of 13-5 feet will be worth $250, while each subsequent bar will have $100 value attached. After the athletes have completed their attempts at the first height, the bar will be raised five inches and those who are remaining will continue to vault. This process will continue until one vaulter remains. The athletes will not be able to pass any height, so as to ensure constant action and exciting competition in the Invitational event.

The field for the “vaulting for dollars” competition includes two former Olympians and a two-time NCAA Indoor pole vault champion.

April Steiner-Bennett will make her fourth appearance at the Kansas Relays, after having won the event in 2005 and 2006, and finishing as the runner up last year. Steiner-Bennett was a member of U.S. Olympic team at the 2008 Games in Beijing, China, where she finished eighth in the 12-person final with a mark of 4.55m (14-11 ft.). Her personal record in the event stands at 4.63m (15-02.25 ft.). In addition to her Olympic status, Steiner-Bennett was a silver-medalist in the pole vault at the 2007 Pan American Games.





Jillian Schwartz, another Kansas Relays regular, is among the 2010 field for the Invitational pole vault. Schwartz has competed at four outdoor and three indoor World Championships, and earned a spot on the 2004 U.S. Olympic team for the Games in Athens, Greece. Schwartz’s PR in the event stands at 4.61m (15-01.50 ft.).

Making her first appearance at the Relays will be Ellie Van Swearingen, formerly Ellie Rudy, who won back-to-back NCAA indoor pole vault titles in 2007 and 2008 competing for Montana State University. Van Swearingen’s career-best vault came in 2007 when she cleared 4.33m (14-02.50 ft.), which was an Olympic trials qualifying mark.
The “vaulting for dollars” event will kick off at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 17. Admission into the meet will be granted to those wearing a 2010 Kansas Relays button. The buttons are $10 for adults and $5 for students, youth and seniors and are valid for all four days of the event. Children under five are admitted for free, as are KU students with a valid KU ID. There is also a Kansas Relays family plan which includes two adult and two student/youth buttons for $20.

[KirkB]

Sounds interesting! So if Jillian goes just under her PR at 15-1, and makes every bar in between, does that mean she makes $250 + $100 + $100 + $100 + $100 = $650?

And if the other 3 make the opening bar and then go out one at a time, then it's about a $1,700 purse?

Kirk

[ADTF Academy]

There is more to it than that. There is also prize money for 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Full travel to the meet as well and housing.

I personally want to say Thank you to the people at the Kansas Relays for doing this for the Women's Pole Vault. Thank you for not dropping this as many other meets have. Personally wish more of the large College Meets in the US would step up and put on elite segments for field events or at least pick a hand full of events.

There is also more than 3 women in the meet. Never got an official start list, but I know Mary Saxer is also jumping I'm guessing 5 to 8 women.

Finally, this is the only paid meet in the US this weekend for pole vaulters we are lucky there is at least this one. Heck the men are not making any money at all. Not even Mt. Sac has a purse this weekend. By the way a 4.60 clearance would be 9 bars with the height progression they are using. So I'll bet as you put a jump just under her PR would be $950.00 plus winning $1,000.00 is better than sitting at home making nothing. Personally I like the prize structure it says come perform and you will get paid. With small budgets come some purses. Thats how it goes sadly in the sport of Track and Field.

Heights are suppose to be
4.10, 4.25, 4.30, 4.35, 4.40, 4.45 and beyond by 5's

[VaultLove]

Well, Mt. SAC has In & Out Burgers and an ocean nearby for surfing. Aw.... California dreaming


[quote="ADTF Academy"]
Not even Mt. Sac has a purse this weekend.