News03 Mar 2003


Dragila regains World Indoor Pole Vault Record in U.S. Nationals

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Stacy Dragila jumping in Reno (© Kirby Lee)

Stacy Dragila is again the World record holder in the women’s Pole Vault, indoors and outdoors. Dragila cleared 4.78m to regain her World Indoor Pole Vault record - from Russian Svetlana Feofanova - in the USA Track & Field Indoor Championships at Roxbury Community College’s Reggie Lewis Centre on 2 March, on the final day of the three-day meet.

Dragila, the outdoor record holder at 4.81m, had seen her record of 4.70m set on 17 February 2001 broken by Feofanova seven times in the winters of 2002 (five) and 2003 (two), the latest coming with a 4.77m clearance in Birmingham, England on the 21 February 2003.

"It’s great to get the World record back and I am looking forward to meeting Svetlana and I can go head-to-head and have a great competition," confirmed a delighted Dragila.

Sunday’s performance was the third time during the 2003 indoor season that Dragila had raised her American record. She cleared 4.71m in the adidas Boston Indoor Games on 1 Feb. at the Reggie Lewis Center and 4.72m in the Verizon Millrose Games in New York on 7 February.

“I really expected this to happen,” commented Dragila. “My practices have been going really well and I came here with lots of confidence. I performed well here in the past and I was really confident that I would jump high today."

Dragila’s confidence hit a low when her 2002 season was ended by a stress fracture in her left (non-plant) foot. She managed an outdoor best of 4.72m during the summer, well off her world record set in 2001. She confirmed at the time that she had been left drained from the long 2000 Olympics and 2001 World Championships seasons and was never completely healthy in 2002.

“This indoor season I’ve felt great and it has shown in my performances. I am really excited to see what I can do the rest of the year.”

So is Regina Jacobs. The 39-year-old, who set a world indoor 1,500m record last month, completed a 1500m-3000m double on Sunday. After winning the 1500m on Saturday, Jacobs returned on Sunday to win the 3000 in 8:52.57.

A high school national record fell in the women’s 200m where Allyson Felix timed 23.14 finishing a surprising second to Michelle Collins (22.84). Felix, the 2001 IAAF World Youth Games 100m champion, in the heats tied the record of 23.22 set by Sanya Richards in 2002. Then in the final, Felix eclipsed the record in holding off 2001 World 200m bronze medallist Kelli White for second to grab the final World Indoor Championships squad berth.

Felix, who ran 23.57 in the Simplot Games in Pocatello, Idaho last month for the fifth best mark, now holds three of the top five indoor high school marks of all time. Felix will attend the University of Southern California next autumn to begin her collegiate career.

Kevin Toth won the Shot Put with a massive 21.30m to defeat John Godina (20.86m), and Adam Nelson (20.63m).

Miguel Pate was victorious in the Long Jump defending his title with a 8.25m leap, with Dwight Phillips (8.21m) second, and Savante Stringfellow (8.03m) third.

In the vertical jumps, Tisha Waller defeated Amy Acuff in the women’s High Jump for her sixth national indoor title with a clearance 1.97m. Acuff was second at 1.94m. Charles Austin won the men’s competition at 2.30m on count back from Tora Harris and Charles Clinger.

Kirby Lee for the IAAF

Results - Day Three

Men

200m: 1. John Capel 20.69; 2. Shawn Crawford 20.77; 3. Bob Williams 20.85
  
800m: 1. David Krummenacker 1:50.59; 2. Khadevis Robinson 1:50.69; 3. Bryan Woodward 1:51.60
  
3000m: 1. Jonathon Riley 7:49.79; 2. Bolota Asmerom 7:51.85; 3. Dan Wilson 7:55.08

5000m walk: 1. Tim Seaman 19:21.56; 2. John Nunn 19:26.43; 3. Curt Clausen 20:38.34

Long Jump: 1. Miguel Pate 8.25m; 2. Dwight Phillips 8.21m; 3. Savante Stringfellow 8.03m

High Jump: 1. Charles Austin 2.30m; 2. Tora Harris 2.30m; 3. Charles Clinger 2.30m.

Shot Put: 1. Kevin Toth 21.30m; 2. John Godina 20.86m; 3. Adam Nelson 20.63m.
  
Women

200m: 1. Michelle Collins 22.84; 2. Allyson Felix 23.14; 3. Kelli White 23.21

800m: 1. Nicole Teter 2:00.09; 2. Sasha Spencer 2:03.20; 3. Chantee Earl 2:05.13.

3000m: 1. Regina Jacobs 8:52.57; 2. Shayne Culpepper 8:56.26; 3. Amy Rudolph 8:57.44

Long Jump: 1. Kiamesha Otey 6.33m; 2. Adrien Sawyer 6.23m; 3. Pam Simpson 6.21m
  
High Jump: 1. Tisha Waller 1.97m; 2. Amy Acuff 1.94m; 3. Ifoma Jones 1.91m

Shot Put: 1. Kristin Heaston 18.03m; 2. Seilala Sua 17.83m; 3. Laura Gerraughty 17.50m

Pole Vault: 1. Stacy Dragila 4.78m World Record; 2. Kellie Suttle 4.35m; 3. Melissa Mueller 4.30m.

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