The Unique Dauphin Street Vault Returns For Its 6th Year!

Jul 11th, 2016

MOBILE, Ala. - The Mobile Sports Authority is pleased to present the 6th Annual Dauphin Street Vault and Dauphin Street 0.0 Race on Saturday, July 16, 2016. The full-day event will start with amateur vaulters competing on two full-size pole vault pits in the middle of Dauphin Street in downtown Mobile at 10 a.m. CDT while the elite vaulters will be competing later in the day at 7 p.m. The USA Track & Field sanctioned competition is open to all ages and skill levels. The Dauphin Street Vault (DSV), held on lower Dauphin Street in Mobile's Entertainment District, was formed to help promote health and wellness through athletics and also to celebrate the uniqueness of pole vaulting by throwing an all-day celebration in its honor. "DSV has always been a way of giving back to our community and helping raise the awareness for the sport of track and field. DSV 2016 will be a great way for Mobile to get into the spirit of the Olympics as you watch incredible athletes soar high above the balconies and traffic lights of lower Dauphin. With the intensity of the crowd on the street, there's really no better way to watch pole vaulting." mentioned Drew Bentley, Event Director and Head Track & Field Coach of McGill-Toolen High School. The event will continue into the evening featuring the unique Dauphin Street Race at 6:45 p.m. This year, the race brings a new twist to the event featuring Mobile's first-ever 0.0 Race. The idea is simple - everyone wins! With a $10 entry fee, the competitors will experience a fun atmosphere of vendors and sports enthusiasts of all levels - and receive a cool t-shirt for participation! All proceeds for the Dauphin Street 0.0 Race will benefit the Fuse Project. The Elite vaulters will start their division competition at 7 p.m. This division will include record holders, future Olympians, and professionals alike. The DSV, known for the elite level of competition, has hosted several elite vaulters over the years from both near and far, including local vaulter Margaret Ollinger, 3rd in the nation for High School with a 13'8" vault, who just graduated from McGill-Toolen and has signed with Vanderbilt for the 2017 school year. Another DSV alum, Pauls Pujats, with a vault of 18'8", will be competing in the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro next month for his country, Latvia. Morgann Leleux, DSV record holder at 15', is also currently competing at the Olympic Trials with hopes of representing the USA in Rio for the 2016 Olympic Games. As a comparison, it is anticipated that a 19-20 ft. vault will win the Gold Medal for Men in this year's Olympics and a 15-16 ft. vault should secure the Gold for the Women. "The Dauphin Street Vault is one of the most unique events we host annually in Mobile. We at the Mobile Sports Authority are always looking for 'cool' events such as this and it has been very rewarding to help this event grow as much as it has these past 6 years. And with this being an Olympic year, we expect a lot of excitement for this event as fans gear up for the Rio games," said Danny Corte, Executive Director of the MSA. The Dauphin Street Vault has seen extensive growth in both participants and spectators since its inaugural event in 2011. Beginning with 70 competitors that first year, the event is expecting at least 250 participants this year along with 3,500+ spectators watching from all the venues along Dauphin Street. For more information on the 2016 Dauphin Street Vault Presented by the Mobile Sports Authority or to register for the Dauphin Street 0.0 Race, please visit www.dauphinstreetvault.com. About The Mobile Sports Authority The Mobile Sports Authority (MSA) is a non-profit sports commission formed in 2008 by the Mobile County Commission. The main mission is to create a positive economic and public relations impact for Mobile County, the City of Mobile, and the region through attracting, hosting, managing and supporting sporting events. MSA is the main point of contact for sports and sports-related activities for the Mobile County area. For more information on MSA, please visit www.mobilesportsauthority.com.