The NCAA News - News & Features

Pole vault recommended as an addition to women's track

Another addition may be on the way -- one that would equalize the number of men's and women's events.

At its annual meeting June 8-12 in Kansas City, Missouri, the NCAA Men's and Women's Track and Field Committee recommended to the NCAA Executive Committee that women's pole vault be implemented as an NCAA-sponsored event.

Previously contested at championships only as a men's event, the addition of the pole vault would provide woman competitors with the same number of events as men. Currently, men compete in 21 events outdoors; women compete in 20.

Implementation of the event, which would occur in 1999, is contingent on Executive Committee approval of an increase in the number of participants at the championships.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

Men's and Women's Track and Field Committee
June 8-12/Kansas City, Missouri

The Division I subcommittee of the Men's and Women's Track and Field Committee took the following actions:

* Recommended to the NCAA Executive Committee that a new cross country district alignment that was presented to coaches in a recent survey be implemented effective with the 1997 championships. The subcommittee noted that district championships will be used only for NCAA qualifying; conferences will not be allowed to use district championships as conference championships.

* Requested that the Executive Committee consider an increase in men's and women's cross country field sizes when it addresses bracket and field sizes in December. The subcommittee noted that the men's field size has remained constant since 1981; however, 45 additional institutions now sponsor the sport.

* Recommended to the Executive Committee that the University of Kansas be the host site of the 1998 Division I Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships. The subcommittee noted that the Division II Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships also has been recommended to be conducted at Kansas on the same day.

* Voted to reduce from 10 to seven days the time frame for submission of proof-of-performance forms.

* Voted to implement a fax declaration process effective with the 1997 indoor track and outdoor track and field championships.

* Agreed to experiment with a centralized proof-of-performance processing system effective with the 1997 indoor track championships.

* Formed a subcommittee involving representatives from all three divisions to examine possible implementation of the women's steeplechase.

* Decided to take no action regarding the concept of regional qualifying for the outdoor track and field championships.

The Division II subcommittee took the following actions:

* Recommended to the Executive Committee that Kansas be the site of the 1998 Division II Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships.

* Voted to implement a centralized proof-of-performance processing system effective with the 1997 indoor track championships.

* Determined that December 15 and March 15 will be the final dates for institutions to submit requests to conduct indoor and outdoor final-qualifying meets, respectively. The subcommittee noted that institutions must submit a request to hold indoor final-qualifying meets from February 26 through March 2; outdoor final-qualifying meets must be from May 14 through May 17.

The Division III subcommittee took the following actions:

* Voted to require that an assistant starter be located behind the starting line at the Division III Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships.

* Agreed to research possible use of a micro chip for timing purposes at the 1996 championships. The micro chip would be placed on a competitor's uniform and/or shoe.

* Recommended to the Executive Committee that Brandeis University and Ohio Northern University be the host sites of the 1998 and 1999 Division III Men's and Women's Indoor Track Championships, respectively.

* Voted to index all indoor running events. The subcommittee noted that the 60-meter dash will not be converted for 55-meter dashes.

* Recommended to the Executive Committee that Division III coaches be surveyed regarding the possibility of reducing the outdoor championships format from four to three days. The subcommittee noted that such a change would not result in a reduction of events.

* Determined that a clerking tent area for field events will be implemented effective with the 1997 outdoor track and field championships.

RULES ACTIONS

The Men's and Women's Track and Field Committee took the following actions pertaining to rules during its June 8-12 meeting in Kansas City, Missouri:

* Determined that the metal rings used in throwing events shall be made of metal or suitable rigid material and shall be six millimeters (0.24 inches) in thickness and 19.05 millimeters (0.75 inches) in height, plus or minus six millimeters, and firmly secured flush with the throwing circles. (Rule 1-7-4)

* Determined that whenever an insert is used to convert a throwing circle, it should be made of metal or suitable rigid material (rubber is not suitable) with a solid metal band on the throwing side. The top of the insert shall be flush with the concrete outside the circle. (Rule 1-7-5)

* Determined that the distance medley relay shall be run as follows: 1,200 meters, 400 meters, 800 meters and 1,600 meters (1,320 yards, 440 yards, 880 yards and 1,760 yards). (Rule 5-8-3)

* Determined that in the event of a malfunction of the fully automatic timing equipment in one or more of several heats or sections, the following procedures shall apply: (1) Hand times must be used for all heats or sections to determine advancement (heats) or final standings (sections). Further, fully automatic times for those heats or sections in which automatic timing equipment functioned properly shall be listed in the final results. (Rule 5-12-5)

* Determined that a field-events competitor shall be charged with an unsuccessful attempt if the competitor does not initiate a trial within one minute after the pit, standards or crossbar have been prepared or set and after the competitor's name has been called by the event judge (see 6-5-2-g). (Rule 6-1-1)

* Determined that in the field events, a maximum of 15 minutes for warm-up attempts shall be permitted before each flight. Between preliminaries and finals, there can be a general warm-up by all competitors, but the same warm-up period will be allowed for competitors of each flight. (Rule 6-3-1)

* Voted that in triple-jump competition, a maximum of two boards per gender may be used. Before the start of the event, the competitors must declare the competition. There must be an identifying mark placed next to the board being used.

* Determined that in order to obtain a better grip, shot-put competitors may use any suitable substance on their hands and neck. (Rule 6-7-2)

* Determined that a legal throw in the javelin is one that falls within the sector. Further, determined that if any part of the javelin makes initial contact within the legal sector, the throw shall be legal. (Rule 6-9-1)

* Determined that for NCAA championships qualifying purposes, marks will not be acceptable in meets or events where wind readings are not recorded in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, 110-meter high hurdles, and long and triple jumps. However, such procedures will not be effective in Division II until September 1, 1997. (NCAA Qualifying)