Section Trying to Stall Move for Girls’ Vault

Southern Section coaches and administrators hope to convince the California Interscholastic Federation that it is still too early to make girls’ pole vaulting a separate scoring event in track and field.

During its meeting here Thursday, the 73-member body voted against a recommendation to include girls’ pole vault as a scoring event for the 1995 track season. A final decision will be made next week in San Francisco, where representatives of the State Federated Council, representing all 10 sections, will vote. Fifty-three of 104 votes are needed to pass; the Southern Section controls 26 votes.

Girls have been able to compete in high school pole vaulting since 1993, but as members of boys’ teams. An estimated 200 girls in California compete. At this year’s State championships, as was the case last year, the top girls will be allowed to vault as an exhibition.

Melissa Price of Kingsburg High last season vaulted 11-feet-6 1/4 inches, which is recognized as the U.S. record. Price already has recorded vaults of 12-1 this season. There is no recognized national high school federation record in girls’ pole vault.

“It’s still in the experimental stage,” said Dean Crowley, Southern Section commissioner. “It’s inevitable that it will become a separate event. But to implement it this year would extend meets and championships. Most venues only have one pole vault area. And it can take 7 1/2 hours to do a boys’ championship event.

“We’re going to do it, but in 1995 we’re not sure how we’re going to do it.”

A straw vote Thursday favored introducing girls’ pole vault as a scoring event for the 1996 season.