Dragila wins
sixth straight US Indoor title
USATF
3 March 2001 – Atlanta - Stacy Dragila won her sixth consecutive U.S. Indoor title in the women's pole vault Friday at the 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix USA Track & Field Championships in Atlanta's Georgia Dome.
Kellie Suttle set a new personal best in the event to join Dragila on the U.S. team that will compete at the World Indoor Championships March 9-11 in Lisbon, Portugal. Both women cleared 4.56 meters, with Dragila winning out on fewest misses. Suttle's previous best was 4.53m, set outdoors in 2000.
In Friday's other individual-event final, Tiombe Hurd successfully defended her U.S. Indoor title in the women's triple jump with a best mark of 14.04m. The University of Florida won the women's distance medley relay with a time of 11:28.89. All other finals will be held Saturday.
In Friday's qualifying heats, 40-year-old Johnny Gray broke his own U.S. masters record in the 800 with his time of 1:48.81 in the heats of the 800 meters. Elliot Gaskins was the top qualifier for Saturday's final at 1:47.97. Defending U.S. Indoor and Olympic Trials champion Hazel Clark led all women's qualifiers at 2:06.89.
Kevin Little, the 1997 World Indoor champion, was the top qualifier in the men's 200 with a time of 20.61 seconds; defending indoor champ James Davis posted the fastest 400m qualifying time of 45.79; and after four events, Stephen Moore leads the heptathlon with 3428 points, propelled by a 2.17m clearance in the high jump.
For full results from Day 1 of the 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix USA Indoor Track & Field Championships and start lists for Saturday's competition, visit the USATF Web site: http://www.usatf.org
