Russia's Feofanova goes close to pole
vault record
Simon Baskett (Reuters)
14 March 2001 – Madrid - Russia's Svetlana Feofanova defeated world record holder Stacy Dragila of the United States in the women's pole vault at the Madrid international indoor athletics meeting on Wednesday.
Feofanova saw off Dragila, who was unable to clear 4.56 metres, with a clearance of 4.61 metres which was just four centimetres short of her existing European record.
The Russian then decided to try her luck at a new world mark of 4.71 metres, a centimetre more than the old record set by Dragila.
She came close on her first attempt appearing to clear the height, but just brushing the bar on her descent. But she could not find the pace on her run-up to come close on her remaining two attempts.
"I am very pleased with my form at the moment and especially in coming so close to setting a new world record," Feofanova said.
Fresh from taking a record fifth victory in the World Indoor Championships at Lisbon, Cuba's Ivan Pedroso recorded the second best mark in the world this year in the long jump -- a mark only he has bettered -- as he leapt to victory with 8.32 metres.
LOCAL HERO
Another highlight of the meeting was the victory of Spain's Manuel Martinez, bronze medallist in the shot put in Lisbon. He became the local hero as he twice broke the Spanish record to take a clear victory over Lisbon silver medallist Adam Nelson of the United States with a throw of 20.91 metres.
Lisbon runner-up Tatiana Lebedeva produced an authoritative performance in the women's triple jump.
The Russian was just 15 centimetres short of her season's best with a fifth round jump of 14.85 metres giving her a comfortable success over Olympic champion and gold medallist at the world indoor championships Tereza Marinova of Bulgaria.
Marinova looked well below her best, registering only two clean jumps to finish second with 14.18 metres.
Anier Garcia, who won the 110 metres hurdles at the Sydney Olympics, cruised to victory over compatriot Yoel Hernandez in the 60 metres hurdles clocking 7.56 seconds.
Nigeria's Glory Alozie upstaged the Lisbon medallists in the women's event with Michelle Freeman and Nicole Ramalalanirina pushed into second and third.
The Nigerian, whose fiancé was tragically killed when he was hit by a car prior to the Sydney Games, recorded a winning time of 7.88 seconds.
Veteran Jamaican sprinter Merlene Ottey showed that at 40-years old she is still able to hold her own on the indoor circuit as she edged out Sevatheda Fynes of the Bahamas in the women's 60 metres in 7.12 seconds.
Leading results
Men's 60 metres
1. Freddy Mayola (Cuba) 6.55 seconds
2. Jose Venancio (Spain) 6.58
3. Deji Aliu (Nigeria) 6.67
Men's 60 metres hurdles
1. Anier Garcia (Cuba) 7.56 seconds
2. Yoel Hernandez (Cuba) 7.60
3. Robert Kronberg (Sweden) 7.70
Men's 1000 metres
1. Roberto Parra (Spain) 2 minutes 21.66 seconds
2. Antonio Reina (Spain) 2:23.00
3. Sergio Gallardo (Spain) 2:23.15
Men's shot put
1. Manuel Martinez (Spain) 20.91 metres
2. Adam Nelson (U.S.) 20.70
3. Alexis Paunier (Cuba) 17.98
Men's long jump
1. Ivan Pedroso (Cuba) 8.32 metres
2. Younes Moudrik (Morocco) 8.02
3. Gregor Cankar (Slovenia) 7.95
Women's 60 metres
1. Merlene Ottey (Jamaica) 7.12 seconds
2. Sevatheda Fynes (Bahamas) 7.15
3. Muriel Hurtis (France) 7.32
Women's 60 metres hurdles
1. Glory Alozie (Nigeria) 7.88 seconds
2. Michelle Freeman (Jamaica) 7.90
3. Nicole Ramalalanirina (France) 7.94
Women's 1000 metres
1. Nuria Fernandez (Spain) 2 minutes 42.31 seconds
2. Adoracion Garcia (Spain) 2:44.82
3. Mayte Martinez (Spain) 2:47.20
Women's triple jump
1. Tatiana Lebedeva (Russia) 14.85 metres
2. Tereza Marinova (Bulgaria) 14.18
3. Oksana Rogova (Russia) 14.05
Women's pole vault
1. Svetlana Feofanova (Russia) 4.61 metres
2. Stacy Dragila (U.S.) 4.46
3. Angela Balakhonova (Ukraine) 4.36
