"Soft" carries a new meaning when discussing records.
OK, we had some fun last week with an opinion of which are the toughest national records, headlined by the "Shot heard Round the World" when Michael Carter pounded a prodigious 81-feet, 3 ½-inch put with the 12-pound shot in 1979.
Going the other way, which are the most vulnerable records? Here again are the Top 10. Since the toughest records were mostly on the track, it figures those most approachable — and none of these records should be considered "soft" by any measure — would be in the field.
1. Girls pole vault: The leaders in this event used to be smallish gymnastics types with great agility and coordination. There is a new prototype, however, one that uses size, speed and, of course, that agility. Last year 6-foot-1 Courtney Ross of
Westview (San Diego), her league 200-meter and 100-meter hurdle champion, could possibly have added six inches to a foot to her best of 13-6 if she had been able to perfect the top of her jump and steered free of injury. Tori Anthony's record of 14-1 ½ will get challenged.
2. Girls mile: There are so many good girls distance runners out there who are just plain fearless and willing to push themselves. Polly Plummer's record of 4:35.24 in 1982 has withstood some very good runners but the combination of endurance and flat-out foot speed figures to give that mark a challenge as each year it seems there is another great group. Like the boys mile, however, the problem may be getting more than a race or two a year as the 1,600 is the distance run these days most everywhere but invitationals.
3. Boys javelin: Sam Crouser (255-4) now holding eight of the Top 10 performances may generate a little more interest in an event that is contested in only a handful of states. The danger factor, like the shot and discus, is real but contested under ideal conditions, it is one of the most interesting to watch. Changing the configuration of the implement, also for safety, adds to the confusion for record purposes.
4. Girls 300 hurdles: It's almost blasphemous for a Californian to even have this event on the list, let alone this high, because the Golden State has the 10 fastest times ever. Especially after watching Leslie Maxie (55.20) or Lashinda Demus (55.76) or Ebony Collins (55.96) skim over the hurdles. But also watching 6-foot-4 and 6-5 girls basketball players race down the court, you know the day will come when one of them gravitates toward track first and makes the barriers look short.
5. Girls triple jump: While this is a very solid event, the presence this year of a healthy Ciarra Brewer from
Logan (Union City, Calif.) — assuming she stays fit and gets back to her 43-4 ¼ effort as a sophomore — could take down Brittany Daniels' 44-11 ¾ record from 2004. Once again, this is one of those evolving events where size, speed and agility when packed into a very athletic competitor could produce that first 45-footer.
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6. Boys hammer throw: A nice run of record-setters the last couple of years, led by Conor McCullough (219-7) and Walter Henning, showed this event is ripe for the pickings if some of those behemoths with quickness want to put in the time. Very hard on the body and not much opportunity in meets that most high school track athletes attend. Conversely, make yourself good and you are almost guaranteed a scholarship if you can handle the other weights, too.
7. Boys 300: Same as the girls, except Reggie Wyatt, who ran 35.02 in 2009, possessed those traits of size, speed, agility and reckless abandon that allowed him to attack the race. That is the only way to produce a truly fast time. Many wonder why not many outstanding quarter-milers are willing to give this a try but it is way more than just a speed event. Technique counts.
8. Boys discus: It used to be that a 200-footer was special, but no longer. This event just seems to produce a wunderkind every few years and although I certainly don't have a crystal ball, I still think that Mason Finley's 236-6, while sensational, is still somewhat vulnerable. It's getting tougher, though, as that truly is a good mark.
9. Girls high jump: This is really just an opinion. There is absolutely nothing wrong with either Amy Acuff or Toni Young's best of 6-4 — and that record could last forever. Acuff's international record is truly envious. No one on the horizon, no magic beans, just a feeling that this record should be closer to 6-5 or 6-6.
10. Girls shot put: Michael Carter's daughter, Michelle, who was a future Olympian, holds this one at 54-10 ¾ but Anna Jelmini scared it a couple of year ago at 54-4 ¾, so eventually someone will come along, avoid the injury bug, and launch it beyond 55 feet.
It was more difficult to find 10 events whose records were approachable than it was to find 10 that were untouchable.
Again, just an opinion and, after all, isn't that what makes track fun — comparing performances and recalling some of the truly great athletes who might not have even set a record. While it's true that records are made to be broken, it happens rarely enough that on those occasions they do fall, there is nothing better than being there to witness it.
