On Saturday (2) in Bucharest, Romania on the University square opposite the National Theatre there was held a promotional Pole Vault competition.
Eight athletes participated in the competition, organized by the Romanian champion Tiberiu Agoston. Among them was the retired French star, the 1996 Olympic champion Jean Galfione, 36.
Despite the competition starting at 6pm the temperature was very hot and even in the shade it registered +30C.
Starting at 4.80m all participants cleared 5.00m then 5.20m, but at 5.40m both by Agoston and Galfione went out.
Four pole-vaulters were eventually left fighting on 5.50m – three Frenchmen (Mathieu Boisrond, Nicolas Compagnoni, Nicolas Durand) and the Slovenian Jure Rovan. Only Rovan and Durand managed that height and also went on to clear 5.60m and unsuccessfully attempted 5.65m, but without success.
Rovan won the competition, having managed the height 5.60 on his 2nd attempt, as opposed to Durand who took that bar on his last effort.
The competition was nearly cancelled because of a serious injury to 18-year-old Hungarian athlete Deszo Szabo, who fell missing the mat during the trial jumps before the start. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance.
Serghei Donets for the IAAF
