Dragila breaks world record twice
AP
9 June 2001 - Palo Alto, California - Marion Jones might have
been the star attraction at the U.S. Open track meet, but Stacy Dragila took centre stage
by setting two world records on Saturday night.
Dragila set the first world record at Stanford’s Angell Field in 60 years with a mark of 4.81 metres, in the pole vault, less than 30 minutes after setting the record for the first time at 4.71. She also held the previous mark of 4.70, set in May in Pocatello, Idaho.
Jones went 22.70 in the 200 metres, the third fastest time by an American this year and her fastest legal mark of the season.
Jones took a victory lap in front of an appreciative crowd, but Dragila drew a standing ovation as she circled the track.
“I came out with a good frame of mind,” said Dragila, “I feel like I’m on the cusp of a higher mark. I just have to be focused on what I have to do.”
Indiana’s Archie Harris set the last world mark at Angell Field in the discus in 1941. Previously, Stanford’s Ben Eastman went 1:51.3 in the 880-yard (800-metre) run on April 9, 1932.
Dragila cleared her first attempt at 4.71, then raised the bar to 4.81 She barely brushed the bar going over, and pumped her fist several times, leaving the pit to the roar of the crowd.
“My confidence just kept building all day,” said Dragila. “I didn’t feel like I had my technique down 100 percent, so that gives me encouragement to practice and fine tune things. I felt close to 16 feet (4.8 metres). I think 17 feet (5.1 metres) might be the ceiling, but I want to be the person to keep pushing it to that mark.”
Jones, who won five Olympic medals last year, will be concentrating on the 200 at the USA Track and Field championships in Eugene, Oregon, beginning June 21.
“It will be fun. I’ll be able to enjoy the meet,” Jones said. “It was nice to use this race, and this track, to tune up for the nationals.”
Jones said she felt in control of the race from the beginning.
“I had a good start and it didn’t feel any different than any other race,” she said. “I was hitting it and going after it. I felt the wind a little bit, but it’s something you deal with and run through.”
Kenya’s Luke Kipkosgei raced 7:38.72 in the 3000, the fastest time in the world this year.
Terrence Trammell, an Olympic silver medalist, ran a season best 13.36 in the 110 hurdles to beat Dawane Wallace, who entered the meet as the world leader in the event at 13.30. Trammell recorded the sixth-fastest time in the world.
“I’m happy with the season’s best, but the biggest thing is the victory,” said Trammell. “I’m getting primed for the nationals.”
John Godina, the reigning world indoor champion and a two-time Olympic medalist, finished second in the discus to Canada's Jason Tunks at 67.06, then turned his attention to the shot.won the shot put at 21.95 metres, the second best mark in the world this year to Janus Robberts’ 21.97 in February.
Godina, who had five throws over 21.34 in the shot, said "This is probably my best shot put-discus double for one day. I've been training well. I knew I was ready to throw far. This has got to be the best overall shot series of my career."
Regina Jacobs, a four-time Olympian, won the 1500 metres in 4:04.85, the second fastest time of the season and the fastest American. She ran a 60.8 final lap.
