TRACK AND FIELD : Bubka Seems Ready to Clear 20 Feet in U.S.

Expectations are high--20 feet high--for Ukranian pole vaulter Sergei Bubka as he competes today for the first time outdoors in the United States.

No one has cleared 20 feet in the United States. Indeed, no one but Bubka has cleared 20 feet anywhere. He has done it 10 times. His best vaults are 20-2 indoors and 20-1 1/4 outdoors.

But, while stopping short of predicting a 20-foot vault, organizers of today’s Bruce Jenner Classic at San Jose City College, the third venue on this season’s Mobil Grand Prix circuit, said Bubka’s decision this week to enter indicates that he is ready.

Bubka, who holds the world record for setting world records with 34, was scheduled to make his U.S. outdoor debut next weekend in the Prefontaine Classic at Eugene, Ore. He has competed indoors often in the United States, most recently at last year’s Sunkist Invitational at the Sports Arena, where his 19-8 1/4 vault was the highest ever in this country.

With the addition of Bubka, the Jenner meet has the best pole-vault field in the United States since the 1984 Summer Olympics, perhaps longer considering Bubka and many other Eastern Bloc athletes boycotted that competition.

Also entered today: the 1992 World Cup champion, Igor Potapovich of Kazakhstan; the British Commonwealth record-holder, Simon Arkell of Australia; the winner of last week’s New York Games, Denis Petushinskiy of Russia; and the three top-ranked Americans--Kory Tarpenning, Dean Starkey and Tim Bright.

Other entrants include Quincy Watts in the 400 meters, Kevin Young and Jackie Joyner-Kersee in the intermediate hurdles, Maria Mutola in the 800, Abdi Bile in the 1,500, Dan O’Brien in the high hurdles and Randy Barnes in the shotput.