2012 Pole Vault Explosion under St. Louis' Gateway Arch

The 2012 edition of Pole Vault Explosion is being held in the shadow of the Gateway Arch. The annual 4th of July pole vault competition, in about year number six, is underway in downtown St. Louis, on the river front of the Mighty Mississippi, on the grounds of the Gateway Expansion Memorial Park. The event, directed by former Lindenwood University standout Mark Aschen, was held on the river front of the Missouri River in St. Charles for the several years, in conjunction with the city's 4th of July celebration. Last year the event moved to Kirkwood, during the Kirkwood's annual July 4th events. The event will run in conjunction with the annual Fair St. Louis 4th of July celebration in downtown St. Louis.

The event is an all-ages competition that wraps up with an elite competiton, that over the years has drawn some of the the U.S. and world's best vaulters, including Missouri Olympians Jeff Hartwig and Kellie Suttle.

Today's events got under way at 7:30 a.m. with approximately 95 athletes entered. There are two women's groups, three men's groups, and an elite section. Some of the best high school and college athletes around Missouri and the region are set to compete.

This year's elite vault is set to begin around 6:00 though the event will use an rolling schedule. The event includes seven athletes who recently competed at the 2012 USA Olympic Track and Field Trials. April Bennett and Mark Hollis are scheduled to compete, both finished 5th at the Trials, just missing spots on the Olympic Team.

On final attempt, Borman wins Javelin title and qualifies for Olympics

De Soto native, and multi-event track and field Missouri High School State Champion for Festus High School, Brittany Borman has put herself in the elite group of US women who throw the javelin in recent years. The University of Oklahoma senior captured the last two NCAA Division I Outdoor National Titles. At the 2012 meet last month, Borman dominated the event. Her five legal throws were better than every other throw by her 23 competitors but one.

Despite her outstanding resume and the fact she just signed a professional sponsorship contract with Nike, Borman needed to perform even better if she wanted to reach every track and field athletes dream and compete in the Olympic Games. Borman needed to place in the top three at the USA Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Or. this weekend and also throw more than six feet farther then she ever had to reach the Olympic Qualifying Standard of 200-9. Borman cruised through the qualifying round Friday with a 4^th place finish and best toss of three measuring 178-9.

A day after failing to record a legal throw in the discus, junior Brittany Borman got redemption, winning the 2011 NCAA Division I Javelin title. 

In the Javelin finals on Sunday afternoon, sitting in 3^rd place with a best toss of 188-11 and having just one more throw, Borman came through in a big way. Borman’s sixth and final toss sailed 201-9 at historic Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon. Olympian. Borman’s throw flew her into 1^st place and the two final athletes with remaining throws didn’t eclipse her mark, giving her the gold medal.

With one 20 meter run-up and a heave of the spear, Borman bettered her personal best of 194-11 by nearly seven feet, captured the U.S. national championship, gave her an Olympic qualifying mark, broke the U.S. Olympic Trials Meet Record, and earned her a berth on the USA London Olympic team.

A phenomenal athlete, Borman was simply too great in the Javelin and Discus to venture into the combined events in college and be simply excellent, after so much success in the sprints, jumps, hurdles and throws and heptathlon in high school.

 Without that last throw, Borman would have had to settle for a bronze medal and some competiton  on the European Summer Track Circuit and forced her to wait another year before she’d have a chance to compete again for the opportunity to represent the USA in international competition. Now, Borman can forever say she’s an Olympian, and in just over a month, she’ll compete against the world’s best, and have an opportunity to earn another medal, one that would look the best of all on a resume.

Borman won her second straight NCAA DI Javelin title last month in dominating fashion. Borman had to enjoy the awards presentation alone as she had no time for the scheduled one after this years Javelin victory and had to go straight to the Discus.

 DeShasier takes 5th in Javelin

Carrolton, Il, native and former SIU-E softball  player who picked up the Javelin as a senior after her softball career, Alicia Deshasier, placed 5^th in the Javelin. Deshasier, who trains with former SIUE head track and field David Astrauskas who now coaches at the University of Wisconsin, had a best mark of 185-9. Deshasier, placed 3^rd at last year’s USA Championships and won the 2011 Pan-Am games javelin last fall representing the USA Team.