Vaulters Bubka, Olson, Dial Set to Compete Again Today

Sergei Bubka of the Soviet Union and Americans Billy Olson and Joe Dial--all who have owned the world record in the pole vault in the last year--will compete today in the Bally Invitational track meet.

The three will compete at the Rosemont Horizon two days after having met in the Millrose Games in New York Friday night.

Bubka is the world record-holder for outdoor meets with a leap of 19-8. Olson set the indoor record of 19-5 1/2 at the Olympic Invitational in New York last week hours after Bubka had reached 19-5 in the Soviet Indoor Championships.

On Feb. 1, Dial had a leap of 19-4 which was the record for one week.

Soviet officials withdrew Bubka’s name from the Millrose and the Bally meets on Jan. 29, saying he would only attend the U.S. Championships Feb. 28 in New York. The Soviets said Bubka was scheduled to participate in a Sports Festival for the 27th Communist Party Congress scheduled for Feb. 25.

But apparently the Soviets changed their minds because Bubka is now scheduled to appear in both American meets this week.

“Something has been going on in Moscow,” said meet director Mike Muska. “But we’ve now been told he’s coming after all. It’ll give us the ultimate pole vault matchup.”

Also competing in the pole vault is Olympic champion Pierre Quinon of France.

There also will be a large Romanian contingent in the meet, and they represent six medals from the 1984 Olympics. Maricica Puica, the 3,000-meter gold medalist from 1984, will be in the meet along with 800-meter stars Doina Melinte and Fita Lovin, Christina Cojocaru in the 400-meter dash and high jumper Sorin Matei.

The Soviets did withdraw two names from the meet. High jumper Igor Paklin and pole vaulter Pavel Bogatyryov will not appear.