Golubchikova vaults 4.70m in Moscow

Russia’s Yuliya Golubchikova vaulted 4.70m to win the women’s Pole Vault in the Christmas Cup competition in Moscow, Russia, today (11).

This is the fourth consecutive victory at this annual meeting for Golubchikova, who was the 2008 Olympic Games fourth placer, and represents the best ever start to an indoor season for the 25-year-old who has 4.75m as her personal best, both indoors and out.

Golubchikova was the European indoor silver medallist in 2007 and on this form will be a firm contender for honours again at this year’s edition in Turin, Italy (6 – 8 March).

Also in Moscow, the 2005 World Championship bronze medallist Pavel Gerasimov won the men's Pole Vault with a leap of 5.75m, while former World Indoor champion Yaroslav Rybakov, the World silver and Olympic bronze medallist, also had a good season opener when winning the men's High Jump with 2.30m.

It was a weekend of fine jumping in Russia. At the Lukashevich Memorial in Chelyabinsk on Friday 9 January, the World University Games High Jump champion Aleksandr Shustov won with 2.27m.  He made three unsuccessful attempts at 2.30m.

Ivan Ukhov, now more notorious for his drunken exploits on the competition field in Lausanne last September than for his athletics talent, also cleared 2.27m but needed two attempts at the height, and so took second place. 1999 World champion Vyacheslav Voronin was third with a second time success at 2.24. Ukhov had needed three attempts to clear 2.24.

Dmitriy Starodubstev and Pavel Prokopenko both cleared 5.50m in the men‘s Pole Vault. Both men needed two attempts, and Starodubstev took the win by having a cleaner card at his previous height.

Irina Gordeyeva took the women’s High Jump victory thanks to a first time approach at 1.94m leap (indoor PB), while Viktoriya Klyugina had to settle for second having needed too attempts to clear the same height. Both athletes tried and failed at 1.97m.

Chris Turner for the IAAF

RESULTS

Christmas Cup - Moscow 11 Jan

Lukashevich Pole Vault and High Jump Memorial - Chelyabinsk 9 Jan