Capping the final Grand Prix meet prior to next month’s Olympic Games, Yelena Isinbayeva once again broke the world record in the pole vault, jumping 5.04m[16-6 ½] at the Herculis Grand Prix meet in Monaco tonight.
With a few early misses, Isinbayeva took her time to get into her rhythm before the bar was eventually raised to the record height. After a pair of attempts that weren’t particularly close, Isinbayeva sailed clear on her third attempt to add a centimeter to the record she set in Rome 18 days ago [See TPR #783]. It was the 23rd world record for the 26-year-old Russian, who will be an overwhelming favorite to defend her Olympic title in Beijing next month.
Isinbayeva’s was one of slew of outstanding performances, including five world leaders, as most Beijing-bound athletes wrapped up their pre-Olympic appearances.
Another reigning champion who will be a serious threat to defend will be Yuriy Borzakovskiy. In trademark fashion, he lingered at the rear of the field in the 800m --he was second from last after the first lap-- before making his move for the front as he entered the final bend, perhaps some 15 to 20 meters behind the leader, Yusuf Saad Kamel of Bahrain. Charging towards the line, he eventually caught Kamel, with the pair crossing the line virtually inseparable. Both were credited with 1:42.79, and the win was given to the Russian. For Borzakovskiy, his time was his fastest in seven years, second to his 1:42.47 national record set in 2001. For Kamel, the son of two-time world champion Billy Konchellah, it was a personal best and his first dip into sub-1:43 territory.
In a deep race, 2004 Olympic silver medallist Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (1:43.26) and Canada’s Gary Reed (1:43.68) both dipped under 1:44.
With a dominating performance, former 100m world record holder illustrated that his early season injury woes are likely behind him. In control by the midway point, the Jamaican improved his season’s best to a sizzling 9.82. While such performances are routine for Powell at his best, it’s important to note that only two men have run faster this year. With the temporary focus on recently-minted world record holder Usain Bolt, Powell has now taken three key races in eight days.
Well behind, Beijing-bound Darvis Patton closed well to finish second in 9.98 in his final pre-Olympic outing, with Jamaican Nesta Carter third (10.02), just edging Derrick Atkins, who was credited with the same time.
There was a Jamaican 1-2 in the women’s 100 as well, but that race was dramatically closer. Sherone Simpson had a narrow early advantage but was nipped at the line by Kerron Stewart by a scant 0.01 seconds in 10.94. American Torri Edwards was third (11.02).
The first world lead of the night came in the women’s long jump where Portuguese Naide Gomes continued her strong momentum towards Beijing. A week ago the 28-year-old former heptathlete reached 7.04m in Stockholm and tonight in the tiny Principality extended both her national record and world lead to 7.12m in the second round. Her fourth round 6.95m was also well ahead of runner-up Brittney Reese (6.76m), while Russian Lyudmila Kolchanova, who shared the world lead with Gomes heading into tonight’s competition, was a distant third (6.68m).
Melaine Walker is also rounding in shape nicely. Running comfortably through the bend, the 25-year-old Jamaican came nearly even with early leader Tiffany Williams, and after a stride-for-stride battle down the homestretch gradually edged to the lead to reach the line in 53.48, a world leader. It was also a significant career best for Walker, a two-time medallist at the world junior championships, who previous best was 54.14 from last year, and her seventh straight victory.
But in the blanket finish, Americans Williams and Sheena Tosta will head to Beijing after producing impressive season bests, 53.54 for Williams, and 543.58 for Tosta. The latter, as Sheena Johnson, was fourth in Athens four years ago. All three dipped under the previous season-pacing mark of 53.99 set by Lashinda Demus in May.
Another Jamaican, Olympic silver medallist Danny McFarlane made it a sweep of the event for the Caribbean Island after cruising to a comfortable 48.39 victory, also a season’s best. Pole Marek Plawgo ran a solid final 100 meters to finish second in 48.69.
Daniel Kipchirchir Komen again showed that when he’s on, he’s a difficult man to beat. The perennial speedster outkicked fellow Kenyan Shedrack Korir 3:31.49 to 3:31.94, a world leader for Kipchirchir Komen. Commonwealth champion Nick Willis produced his best outing of the season to finish third in 3:33.51.
The women’s 100m hurdles was fast as well. Australian Sally McClellan carried a slight lead over the first five barriers but Jamaican veteran Brigitte Foster-Hylton was breathing closely down her neck. She gained a slight edge by the seventh hurdle and hung on for a 12.49 victory to McLellan’s 12.53, another Oceania record for the 21-year-old.
Anwar Moore got off to a good start in the men’s high hurdles, but David Oliver, who hit a few of the initial barriers regrouped to come even by hurdle eight to take the win in 13.11. Moore was second in 13.19 just ahead of another American, NCAA champion Jason Richardson, who clocked 13.23.
New British No. 1 in the 400m Martyn Rooney continues to improve. Third into the straight, Rooney confidently swept past Ricardo Chambers and Frenchman Leslie Djhone to take a 44.72 victory, his second personal best in three days.
Ethiopian Wude Ayelew easily out-kicked Spaniard Dolores Checa en route to a world-leading 8:35.50 in the women’s 3000, while Joseph Ebuya handily dispensed with Isaac Songok in the men’s race in 7:34.62.
Sarah Jamieson tried to run away with the win in the 1500 but her aggressiveness backfired. Carrying a big lead at the bell, the Australian began to fade as she entered the homestretch, with Russian Nataliya Panteleeva fully taking advantage to win, 4:02.56 to 4:03.03.
World leader Andrey Silnov won the high jump with a 2.33m leap over Swede Linus Thornblad and Russian Andrey Tereshin, who both topped out at 2.31m.
Randy Lewis won the triple jump with a 17.42m leap, well ahead of world champion Nelson Evora (17.24m). Pole Tomasz Majewski won the shot put (20.44m), and French champion Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad kicked past Wesley Kiprotich off the final barrier to win the steeplechase in 8:17.22.
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