With more than a dozen men having cleared 5.75m or better this season, 5.70m proved to be a fair barometer in selecting the field for Sunday afternoon’s final.
Seven men cleared that automatic qualifying height, with Germany’s Tim Lobinger, the 2003 champion and bronze medallist two years ago, having the easiest morning. Opening with a first attempt success at 5.55m, the 35-year-old then sailed over 5.70m, also with his first vault.
Defending champion Brad Walker had a light morning as well, needing a second attempt at a season’s best equalling 5.70 after also opening at 5.55. Walker, also the outdoor champion, is aiming to become the first to ever successfully defend in the men’s Pole Vault. Vault legend Sergey Bubka did win the inaugural title in 1987 after winning the World Indoor Games in 1985.
Five others also moved on automatically: American Derek Miles, Frenchman Jerome Clavier, Steve Hooker of Australia, Maksym Mazuryk of Ukraine, and Russian Evgeniy Lukyanenko.
Swede Alhaji Jeng, the defending silver medallist, moved on as well. The 26-year-old had an easy time with 5.45 and 5.65, clearing both with his first try. In sole position of eighth place to take the final qualifying spot, he passed on 5.70 and called it a day.
Notable among non-qualifiers were Japanese champion Daichi Sawano (5.65m), Ukrainian Denys Yurchenko (5.35m) and German No. 2 Fabian Schulze, who no-heighted at 5.45 the day after celebrating his 24th birthday.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
