Track fans don’t need to chant, “One more year,” for former Kansas University pole vaulter Pat Manson.
Manson, 34, from Aurora, Colo., who is a three-time Pan American Games champion, has no plans to retire — not with a significant record within reach.
“It’s the Cal Ripken longevity record,” Manson quipped Saturday after the Kansas Relays invitational pole vault competition had been washed.
“I’ve jumped 18-feet (or better) 17 years in a row. If I do it next year that’s 18 consecutive years over 18-feet, tying the world record. It’s a unique opportunity to be in position to chase that record,” added Manson, a 1991 KU graduate who has a personal-best vault of 19-21/4.
Manson also wants to see if he can win an unprecedented four straight vault titles at the Pan Am Games. He won the competition in 1991, ’95 and ’99 with the next Games coming up in 2003.
Manson tied for third at the Olympic trials, but finished sixth on misses at the 1996 Olympic Trials as his best buddy, Lawrence’s Scott Huffman, claimed the third and final spot on the U.S. team. Manson figures to try once more in 2004.
“I’d have to be an outside contender now. I’m working more (for Environmental Management Resources near Boulder, Colo.) and training less and traveling less because I want to be with my family,” said Manson, who has a wife, Amy, with one young child and another baby on the way.
“I’m on the outside limit of the age envelope so it’s month to month leading up to the Olympic Trials. It’ll depend on fitness, if I’m still healthy and training well. I’ve been real lucky from a track and field perspective to never have had a hamstring or quad injury. God did a good job lining up my hamstrings and quads right.”
Manson spent last weekend at the home of former KU vaulter Huffman. Huffman, who has a personal-best vault of 19-7, retired from the sport a couple years ago but planned an encore performance at the Relays.
He’s still in good shape at age 37. In fact, Huffman cleared 17-feet “real easy” just a couple weeks ago, before straining his quad eight days ago.
“It took me an hour and a half to pull the pole vault pits together, same ol’ deal as it always was, putting the pits together,” Huffman said with a smile. “I moved my run back. I was running faster than I have for three years without training. It’s old age. I’m an old man now.”
Huffman, who is in pharmaceutical sales for Aventis, has bounced back from another injury. A big basketball fan, he suffered a cartilage tear in his left knee playing hoops and had arthroscopic surgery last winter.
Huffman, like most of Lawrence, followed the Drew-Gooden-to-the-NBA saga with interest.
“Pat and I were talking today, if we would have had a draft for track and field our junior year and somebody offered that kind of money the NBA is offering, I guarantee you we’d have left school,” Huffman said. “Maurice Greene is making more money right now than Drew will the next couple years, believe it or not. His Nike contract pays him a solid amount and he gets bonuses for records and what-not. His appearance fees have to be $100,000 to $200,000 just to show up. You do that 25 to 30 times a year plus he’s doing corporate appearances for other companies, it adds up.”
KC sprint sensation Greene was to have run at the Relays on Saturday before rain canceled the 800 relay. Greene has elected to run at the Kansas Relays for free because of his love for the event.
“There are people who transcend sports, like Michael Jordan,” Manson said. “Maurice Greene is one of them, Jackie Joyner they are icons.”
Like Greene, Manson and Huffman compete at the Relays for free, too.
“Today we were laughing when we were warming up (for vault). The first time we warmed up together was 1986 when we were jogging around this track,” Manson said. “When I first came here to school in the fall of ’86 we were doing our workouts here.
“Last year was the same weather as this year, but it cleared up and I managed to go 18-feet and win it. I had the best time. I had the best time this year just coming back and going to the banquet. The Relays will survive. What’s it say on the buttons the 75th Relays? There will be many more.”
