On a pleasant afternoon in Los Angeles last week, Bob Seagren walked out onto the track, chatted amiably with his competitors and with A.A.U. officials, and then proceeded to win the pole-vault event. His best jump of 17 ft. 4 in. was not really much of an accomplishment for Seagren; he is co-holder with Sweden's Kjell Isaksson of the world's record of 18 ft. 4ΒΌ in. set in El Paso, Texas, in May. But without top competition, Seagren explains, he can't reach the psychological plateau necessary to crack 18 ft. "In practice, even when I'm trying, I can never get over...
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