Top Vault Field Set for Jan. 17

American record-holder Joe Dial has entered the 27th annual Sunkist Invitational indoor track meet, Friday night, Jan. 17, at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, to set up possibly the strongest pole vault cast ever to compete indoors.

Four 19 footers, including the 1984 Olympic Champion Pierre Quinon of France, and nine 18 footers have entered the event.

Oklahoma’s Joe Dial was the undisputed No. 1 American vaulter in 1985. He bettered the national mark to 19-2, which ranks him third in the world for the last season Dial won both the NCAA and TAC titles, after winning the NCAA indoors.

Quinon finally outclassed countryman Thierry Vigneron for the unofficial title of the best product of the French pole vault school. The Oympic champ improved his best to 19-4, which makes him the third best vaulter ever and ranks him second in the world in 1985. Or first in the outside-Bubka land.

Billy Olson and Earl Bell are two proven world class stars. Olson, the former indoor world record holder and the first American over 19 feet (in 1983, indoors). Bell has a 19 PR since 1984.

The handsome pole vaulter Calvin Klein “Underwear Man” Tom Hintnaus rose among the best in the world last season. The Brazililan/American Manhattan Beach resident improved to 18-10 3/4and made the 1985 top ten world list.

Frenchman Phillippe Sivillon, former USC standout Dave Kenworthy and Doug Fraley, of Fresno State complete the pole vault field for Sunkist. And last but not least, the prep sensation Brandon Richards. The San Marcos High graduate, now at UCLA, set a national high school record with 18-2. Mike Tully’s advice helped. Brandon’s jump is almost three feet higher than his two-time Olympic champion dad Bob’s best effort, three decades ago.