Texas Tech Athletics
NCAA Championships
Most Becomes First Tech All-American Pole Vaulter
March 14, 2003 | Track and Field
March 14, 2003
Fayetteville, Ark. - Texas Tech is tied for 29th after the first day of the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., behind the efforts of Tech's first All-American pole vaulter, Bobby Most.
Most (Laredo, Texas) missed his first attempt of the night at the height of 17-feet, but was successful on the second try. At 17'-3.75" the sophomore needed all three attempts before recording a successful vault. At that point Most was assured All-America honors, but was looking for more.
"I am extremely pleased with my performance," commented Most. "I was moving through poles like I should have been doing all season."
Competing seventh, only two other vaulters had cleared 17'-7.75" when Most made his first attempt, a miss. One more athlete cleared the height before Most made his second attempt. He cleared the bar with room to spare and it looked as if this was going to be a special night, but all was not well.
On the approach Most felt a twinge in his leg. The 6-foot-4 Most made one attempt at 17'-11.75" which he was clearly over but his elbow hit the bar on the release, causing a fault. That would be the last vault of the night for Most as he was forced to withdraw from the competition.
"I am happy to [set a personal record] for the indoor season. I was rolling up until I felt a pull in my leg. I probably could have continued to jump, but I didn't want to risk missing the outdoor season. Tonight was the first night I was going through a new pole at each height which means I am progressing."
Most's elevation is the second best in school history at the indoor championships bettered only by Brit Pursley's 17'-8.75" at the 1990 championships. Pursley's height tied him for seventh that year.
Albert Booker (Trent, Texas) entered today's preliminaries with the nation's 15th fastest time in the 400 of 46.34 seconds, a time that would have to be repeated for the Trent High School product to advance to Saturday's finals. Running in the final heat of the event, Booker knew he would have to run at least a 46.40 and finish second in his heat of four.
Running in lane three, the sophomore had made up the stagger on Northern Iowa's Dirk Homewood by the second turn. Coming out of turn three, Booker and Texas' Ashton Collins were neck-in-neck with a lap time of 21.07.
"After the first lap I thought I had a good chance at making the finals," commented Booker. "But I just couldn't keep going like I was."
Just like at the Big 12 Championships Booker was in position to set the pace for the final 200 meters, but just like at conference Collins found a way to gain position as Booker was tripped up just enough to get off stride.
"I got tripped up around the turn and lost my stride. Then as I was trying to get back in the race I got tripped up again. I ran well, but I should have run a better race. I guess I just wasn't used to this track."
Booker finished the race with in a time of 46.68, but his time was the 12th fastest and did not qualify him for the finals.
Tomorrow, Mike Beasley (Abilene, Texas) will be the lone Red Raider to compete as he attempts to better last year's ninth place finish in the high jump.
