World record holder Elena Isinbaeva of Russia in flight during the women's pole vault (© Getty Images)
Yelena Isinbayeva has always had a flair for the dramatic, a talent she again shared at this evening’s qualifying round in the women’s Pole Vault.
As is her habit, the World record holder didn’t even begin her competition until much of the field had already departed, and indeed, at a height when those moving on to Sunday’s final were already decided. Her first attempt at 4.55m was close enough to shake out the rust, but her second, which was not particularly close and a bit sloppy, had the crowd wondering if she was once again reliving the nightmare that was Berlin.
But the 27-year-old pulled out an effort good enough to sail clear on her third try to continue her road towards a fourth World indoor title.
Isinbayeva ensured others, and most importantly herself, that there was nothing wrong with her physical or her mental preparation.
“Nothing happened, it was just the waiting and waiting,” she said. “First I did not expect that the other jumpers would qualify so early, and I was waiting for 4.60. So it was earlier than I expected.”
Another unexpected delay, this time caused by problems with the uprights, caused her to wait an additional 30 minutes. “So it was normal that I started to be nervous. But I managed,” she said. “Now I’m looking forward to the final with the aim to win, and break the world record.”
The record she’ll be aiming for is her own, of course, a 5.00m clearance in Donetsk, Ukraine, set just over a year ago. A height 15 centimetres higher than any other women has ever leaped.
There were no major surprises behind Isinbayeva, with six others clearing 4.45m, and another advancing with just a 4.35m clearance to set the size of the final to eight.
Svetlana Feofanova, a former World record holder and the World indoor champion in 2003, needed just one leap, a first attempt clearance at 4.45, to move. Same story for South American record holder Fabiana Murer, who is this year’s No. 2 at 4.82m.
Anna Rogowska, who took the World title in Berlin last summer after Isinbayeva’s famous no-height blowout, also opened at 4.45m, but needed a second try before calling it a day. Nikoleta Kriakopoulou of Greece took a slightly longer road, with first attempt successes at 4.20m, 4.35, and 4.45m, just five centimetres shy of her own national record, to move on to her first global final.
Canada’s Kelsie Hendry and Jirina Ptacnikova of the Czech Republic topped out at 4.45m, while Germany’s Kristina Gadschiew, who managed 4.35, shoved her way into the final as well.
Notable non-qualifiers included Briton Kate Dennison and American Chelsea Johnson. Dennison, the UK record holder at 4.60m, could manage just 4.35m while Johnson, who shared World silver last summer and improved to 4.62m during the indoor season, needed three tries at her opening 4.35m, while exiting at 4.45m.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
As is her habit, the World record holder didn’t even begin her competition until much of the field had already departed, and indeed, at a height when those moving on to Sunday’s final were already decided. Her first attempt at 4.55m was close enough to shake out the rust, but her second, which was not particularly close and a bit sloppy, had the crowd wondering if she was once again reliving the nightmare that was Berlin.
But the 27-year-old pulled out an effort good enough to sail clear on her third try to continue her road towards a fourth World indoor title.
Isinbayeva ensured others, and most importantly herself, that there was nothing wrong with her physical or her mental preparation.
“Nothing happened, it was just the waiting and waiting,” she said. “First I did not expect that the other jumpers would qualify so early, and I was waiting for 4.60. So it was earlier than I expected.”
Another unexpected delay, this time caused by problems with the uprights, caused her to wait an additional 30 minutes. “So it was normal that I started to be nervous. But I managed,” she said. “Now I’m looking forward to the final with the aim to win, and break the world record.”
The record she’ll be aiming for is her own, of course, a 5.00m clearance in Donetsk, Ukraine, set just over a year ago. A height 15 centimetres higher than any other women has ever leaped.
There were no major surprises behind Isinbayeva, with six others clearing 4.45m, and another advancing with just a 4.35m clearance to set the size of the final to eight.
Svetlana Feofanova, a former World record holder and the World indoor champion in 2003, needed just one leap, a first attempt clearance at 4.45, to move. Same story for South American record holder Fabiana Murer, who is this year’s No. 2 at 4.82m.
Anna Rogowska, who took the World title in Berlin last summer after Isinbayeva’s famous no-height blowout, also opened at 4.45m, but needed a second try before calling it a day. Nikoleta Kriakopoulou of Greece took a slightly longer road, with first attempt successes at 4.20m, 4.35, and 4.45m, just five centimetres shy of her own national record, to move on to her first global final.
Canada’s Kelsie Hendry and Jirina Ptacnikova of the Czech Republic topped out at 4.45m, while Germany’s Kristina Gadschiew, who managed 4.35, shoved her way into the final as well.
Notable non-qualifiers included Briton Kate Dennison and American Chelsea Johnson. Dennison, the UK record holder at 4.60m, could manage just 4.35m while Johnson, who shared World silver last summer and improved to 4.62m during the indoor season, needed three tries at her opening 4.35m, while exiting at 4.45m.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
