The Hindu : Sport / Athletics : World record No. 14 for Isinbayeva

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 07, 2005

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Sport - Athletics

World record No. 14 for Isinbayeva

LAUSANNE: After setting her 14th pole vault World record, Yelena Isinbayeva needs a new challenge — becoming the first woman to clear five metres. Though initially worried about a headwind and chilly temperatures, the 22-year-old Russian had little difficulty breaking her own World record in Tuesday's competition at the Athletissima Grand Prix meet, vaulting 4.93 metres.

Isinbayeva, who broke the indoor World record in each of her four appearances this past winter, eclipsed the outdoor World record on her first attempt at that height. She quickly leapt back onto her feet and began jumping up and down on the mat, her long ponytail flying, as the frenzied crowd drowned out the announcer with its cheers.

"I thought that I would break the World record today. I was in good form," said the Olympic champion, who had set the previous record of 4.92 in Brussels in September 2004. "I have five more meets this year and I will try and beat the record every time. I will try to jump five metres this year," she added.

Female Bubka

Isinbayeva said the first woman to break the five-metre mark would be considered the female Sergei Bubka. "The woman who jumps this height first will be a legend," she said. "Five metres for women is the same as six metres for men."

Chandra Sturrup of Bahamas set a season best of 10.84 seconds in the women's 100 metres, one of several season's best performances at the meeting.

France's Ronald Pognon was the surprise winner of the men's 100, crossing in 9.99 to beat favourites such as Athens Olympic gold and silver medallists Justin Gatlin and Francis Obikwelu.

The results: Men: 100m: 1. Ronald Pognon 9.99s, 2. Aziz Zakari, 3. Justin Gatlin. 200m: 1. Francis Obikwelu 20.58s, 2. Brian Dzingai, 3. Marc Schneeberger. 400m: 1. Jeremy Wariner 44.96s, 2. Christopher Brown, 3. Tyree Washington. 800m: 1. Ramzi Rashid 1m 44.73s, 2. William Yiampoy, 3. Dmitrijs Milkevics. 1,500m: 1. Suleiman Simotwo 3:34.12s, 2. Rui Silva, 3. Alan Webb. 3,000m: 1. Kenenisa Bekele 7:34.57s, 2. Tariku Bekele, 3. Markos Geneti. 110m hurdles: 1. Xiang Liu 13.05s, 2. Terrence Trammell, 3. Dominique Arnold. 400m hurdles: 1. James Carter 48.47s, 2. Louis Van Zyl, 3. Periklis Iakovakis. High jump: 1. Vyacheslav Voronin 2.31m, 2. Stefan Holm, 3. Germaine Mason and Yaroslav Rybakov (tie). Triple jump: 1. Marian Oprea 17.81m, 2. Momchil Karailiev, 3. Jadel Gregorio. Discus: 1. Virgilijus Alekna 70.53m, 2. Gerd Kanter, 3. Zoltan Kovago.

Women: 100m: 1. Chandra Sturrup 10.84s, 2. Lauryn Williams, 3. Christine Arron. 400m: 1. Sanya Richards 49.95s, 2. Tonique Williams Darling, 3. Christine Amertil. 800m: 1. Zulia Calatayud 1m 59.35s, 2. Svetlana Cherkasova, 3. Svetlana Usovich. 1,500m: 1. Maryam Jamal 4:01.73s, 2. Natalya Yevdokimova, 3. Nancy Jebet Lagat. 100m hurdles: Michelle Perry 12.61s, 2. Anjanette Kirkland, 3. Susanna Kallur. Pole vault: 1. Yelena Isinbayeva 4.93m, 2. Stacy Dragila, 3. Thorey Elisdottir and Pavla Hamackova (tie). Triple jump: 1. Tatyana Lebedeva 15.05m, 2. Anna Pyatykh, 3. Trecia Smith. — AP