Monday at the Track Writers of Metropolitan New York luncheon, U.S. pole vaulters Mary Sauer and Mel Mueller discussed by phone hook-up their seasons, in which both women have vaulted over 15 feet in the span of just over a week. Sauer cleared 4.61 meters/15 feet, 1.5 inches Sunday in Flagstaff, Arizona, while Mueller cleared 4.60/15-1 the previous weekend, also in Flagstaff. The two train together under Anthony Curran at UCLA.

Below are excerpts from their phone call-in.

MEL MUELLER

Q: Mel, you have had a great deal of success vaulting in New York, winning at Millrose in 1999 with a then-American record. How do you feel about coming back to New York for Indoor Nationals?

MUELLER: I’m always excited to come back to New York, but Mary and I will probably be there for the shopping (laughter). I hear the Armory is a great place to compete. The crowd goes crazy – we thrive on that, and I’m really looking forward to it.

Q: How do you account for your improvement this season?

MUELLER: I am injury-free this year for the first time in two years. (Mueller had knee surgery in 2001). Both Mary and I went to UCLA to train with Anthony Current, so we will have a very good year.

Q: Would you rather win an Olympic/World Championships gold medal or set a world record?

MUELLER: I think I want it all. We want to jump well and do it when it counts.

MARY SAUER

Q: How have you and Mel going over 15 feet recently changed the complexion of the upcoming Nationals?

SAUER: I think it’s going to make for a great competition. I think it has been pretty one-sided with Stacy winning. It should be more interesting this year.

Q: How has training together (with Mueller) under Anthony Curran affected your training?

SAUER: He is a really positive person. We go into practice and we train hard every day. It’s just being in that positive atmosphere that makes a big difference.

Q: With no Olympics or World Championships this year, do you approach your season any differently?

SAUER: This year, we’re just kind of learning to vault. I’ve only been vaulting for a few years. I think more than anything, it’s important for us to train really hard this year so we can really be ready two years from now (for the 2004 Olympics).