Athletes Vault into 4th of July Event

THREE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS SCHEDULED TO
COMPETE AT LOCAL POLE VAULT CHAMPIONSHIPS

NCAA pole vault champions Becky Holliday, Kate Soma and Tommy Skipper will be among several of America's top vaulters in competition Mon., July 4, at the 11th-Annual Tacoma Freedom Fair Pole Vault Championships, held just West of the Les Davis Pier on the Ruston Way waterfront.

The longest running festival vault competition in the United States, the Freedom Fair will feature four separate competitions, beginning with boys' and girls' high school and men's and women's masters' competitions at 10:00 a.m., and the combined elite competition at 5:00 p.m.

The elite competition -- featuring three NCAA champions, three Pac-10 champions and six NCAA All-Americans -- boasts a unique head-to-head format with the men and women competing on one runway, with a four-foot difference in bar height. The last competitor remaining earns a bid to the North American Pole Vault Championships in Clovis, Calif. on August 5th.

Among those scheduled to appear at this year's meet are former Oregon vaulter Holliday, the 2003 NCAA champion and 2005 USA Indoor runner-up, and former Washington vaulter Soma, the 2005 NCAA champion and the eighth-place finisher at last weekend's USA Outdoor Championships. Others of note include 2005 NCAA indoor champion Tommy Skipper of Oregon; University of Washington All-Americans Carly Dockendorf and Ashley Wildhaber; former Washington school record holder and NCAA All-American, Matt Phillips; and NCAA Championships competitors Stevie Marshalek (University of Washington) and Jon Derby (University of Oregon).

Athletes interested in attending, or for more information on the Freedom Fair Pole Vault Championships, please contact Rick Baggett at (971) 207-1422 or baggettpv@aol.com.