Several Bulldog student-athletes are entered in the field, which also showcases former US Olympians and NCAA Champions.
July 31, 2003
FRESNO, Calif.- The North American Pole Vault Association (NAPVA) will showcase the 2003 edition of the organization's Grand Prix Finals tomorrow at 7 p.m. in Old Town Clovis.
The NAPVA Championships have quickly transformed Clovis into one of the fast-growing hotbeds of pole vaulting in the nation. Known best for its annual lineup of premier competitors and fan interaction, the event has been consistently well-attended.
Several former and current Bulldog student-athletes are entered in the field, including WAC Outdoor Champion Russell Weaver, WAC Outdoor Runner-Up Bergann Hernandez and NCAA qualifiers Annie Malaythong and Mark Unzueta.
Other notable competitors include the following: 2001 and 2002 NAPVA Runner-Up Scott Slover, 1997 World Championship Bronze Medalist Dean Starkey, 2000 NCAA Division 1 Champion Russ Buller and two-time NCAA Division 1 All-American Giovanni Lanaro.
Former 2000 USA Olympian Mel Mueller is also scheduled to compete, as is Amy Chow, who captured a gold medal in gymnastics in the 2000 USA Olympics.
The action gets underway at 5 p.m. on Friday with the USATF National Pole Vault Development Championships. This portion of the competition features entrants from six regions as well as the women's development section. Fresno State vaulters Leif McMurray and Stacy Hunt are also in the mix.
The North American Pole Vault Association is spearheaded by current Fresno State director of track and field, Bob Fraley.
