World Indoor Championships Preview

[VaultnGus]

(1/5)

2004 IAAF World Indoor Track & Field Championships

March 05-07, 2004
Budapest, Hungary

Women PV Qualifying Round Friday March 5th 16:30
Women PV Final Round Saturday March 6th 16:35

Men PV Qualifying Round Saturday March 6th 10:10
Men PV Final Round Sunday March 7th 15:45

US TV coverage this year spans two days. Two measly hours. *sigh*

Saturday 02/28 ESPN2 6:30-7:30pm
Sunday 02/29 ESPN2 6:00-7:00pm

Check out these websites for more info

http://www.iaaf.org/wic04/index.html
http://www.letsrun.com/
http://www.polevaultpower.com/forum/
http://www.polevaultpit.com/
http://www.athletix.org/

Men's Qualifying Height 5.65m 18'06.50"
Women's Qualifying Height 4.35m 14'03.25"

===================================================
2003 World Outdoor Championships Women's Qualifiers
===================================================

Just this afternoon (Wednesday) the IAAF posted the tentative
startlists for both the men's and women's preliminary rounds...

Athlete Country SB PB
================== =================== ============= =============
Tanya Stefanova Bulgaria 4.30 14'01.25 4.45 14'07.25
Stephanie McCann Canada 4.35 14'03.25 4.41 14'05.50
Shuying Gao China 4.36 14'03.50 4.52 14'10.00
Katerina Badurova Czech Republic 4.35 14'03.25 4.35 14'03.25
Vanessa Boslak France 4.50 14'09.00 4.50 14'09.00
Carolin Hingst Germany 4.40 14'05.25 4.51 14'09.50
Nastja Ryshich Germany 4.50 14'09.00 4.50 14'09.00
Georgia Tsiliggiri Greece 4.30 14'01.25 4.40 14'05.25
Tunde Vaszi Hungary 4.30 14'01.25 4.30 14'01.25
Thorey Elisdottir Iceland 4.50 14'09.00 4.51 14'09.50
Melina Hamilton New Zealand 4.20 13'09.25 4.40 14'05.25
Monika Pyrek Poland 4.65 15'03.00 4.65 15'03.00
Anna Rogowska Poland 4.52 14'10.00 4.52 14'10.00
Svetlana Feofanova Russia 4.85 15'11.00 4.85 15'11.00
Yelena Isinbayeva Russia 4.83 15'10.00 4.83 15'10.00
Naroa Agirre Spain 4.35 14'03.25 4.45 14'07.25
Dana Cervantes Spain 4.46 14'07.50 4.46 14'07.50
Stacy Dragila United States 4.71 15'05.50 4.81 15'09.25
Jillian Schwartz United States 4.50 14'09.00 4.50 14'09.00
Hanna-Mia Persson Sweden 4.35 14'03.25 4.35 14'03.25

Of course since I'm sending this out on THURSDAY the official
startlists for the women have since been posted...

---

Startlist - Pole Vault Women - Qualification
Qual. rule: qualification standard 4.45m or at least best 8 qualified
Group A - Friday, March 05, 2004 - 17:05

Order Bib  Athlete Country 2004 Personal
1  633   Ryshich Nastja GER 4.50 4.50
2  746   Feofanova Svetlana RUS 4.85 4.85
3  714   Hamilton Melina NZL 4.20 4.40
4  549   Gao Shuying CHN 4.36 4.52
5  670   Elisdóttir Thórey Edda ISL 4.50 4.51
6  821   Schwartz Jillian USA 4.50 4.50
7  723   Rogowska Anna POL 4.52 4.52
8  545   McCann Stephanie CAN 4.35 4.41
9  748   Isinbayeva Yelena RUS 4.83 4.83
10  567   Badurová Katerina CZE 4.35 4.35
11  577   Cervantes Dana ESP 4.46 4.46
12  722   Pyrek Monika POL 4.65 4.65
13  651   Tsiliggíri Yeoryía GRE 4.30 4.40
14  627   Hingst Caroline GER 4.30 4.51
15  813   Dragila Stacy USA 4.71 4.81
16  604   Boslak Vanessa FRA 4.50 4.50
17  663   Vaszi Tünde HUN 4.30 4.30
18  572   Agirre Naroa ESP 4.35 4.45
19  785   Persson Hanna-Mia SWE 4.35 4.35

---

I think it would be tough to find anyone that doesn't think that
this is basically a three woman battle for gold between Svetlana
Feofanova, Yelena Isinbayeva and Stacy Dragila. Well actually
that's not so - a lot of major press pundits are saying it's only
the two Russians that will fight to the death. They're saying
that the event has passed Dragila by. I find that hard to believe
especially after seeing her season record. Has she cleared a WR
this season? Nope but she's been trying for one nearly every meet.
She's been over 4.70 15'05+ 4 times this season. She's on bigger
sticks - once she gets the timing down watch out.

The only other real contender for a top spot is Poland's Monika
Pyrek. She's been over 15' several times the past few years and
always seems to perform well at the big shows.

A neck injury to Annika Becker earlier this season knocked out
the major competitor to the big three. The tough Russian
championships eliminated another former WR holder in Tatyana
Polnova. Haven't heard much from the other German 15 footers Yvonne
Buschbaum and Christine Adams this winter. American Kellie Suttle -
over 15' twice this indoor season - could fare no better than 9th at
the US selection meet.

The other missing qualifiers include Natalya Kushsch (Ukraine),
April Steiner (US), Chelsea Johnson (US, Tracy O'Hara (US), Anastasiya Ivanova (RUS), Lindsay Taylor (US) & Lesa Kubishta (US)

================================================
2004 World Indoor Championships Men's Qualifiers
================================================

Athlete Country SB PB
================== =================== ========== =============
Paul Burgess Australia 5.70 18'08.25 5.71 18'08.75
Dmitri Markov Australia 5.75 18'10.25 6.05 19'10.25
Spas Bukhalov Bulgaria 5.45 17'10.50 5.70 18'08.25
Ilian Efremov Bulgaria 5.73 18'09.50 5.75 18'10.25
Adam Ptacek Czech Republic 5.65 18'06.50 5.81 19'00.75
Piotr Buciarski Denmark 5.65 18'06.50 5.75 18'10.25
Matti Mononen Finland 5.60 18'04.50 5.65 18'06.50
Romain Mesnil France 5.71 18'08.75 5.95 19'06.25
Jerome Clavier France 5.65 18'06.50 5.65 18'06.50
Tim Lobinger Germany 5.75 18'10.25 6.00 19'08.25
Bjorn Otto Germany 5.81 19'00.75 5.81 19'00.75
Alexsandr Averbukh Israel 5.80 19'00.25 5.93 19'05.50
Giuseppe Gibilisco Italy 5.82 19'01.00 5.90 19'04.25
Daichi Sawano Japan 5.70 18'08.25 5.75 18'10.25
Yoo-Suk Kim Korea 5.33 17'05.75 5.55 18'02.50
Rens Blom Netherlands 5.75 18'10.25 5.75 18'10.25
Christian Tamminga Netherlands 5.42 17'09.25 5.76 18'10.75
Pavel Gerasimov Russia 5.77 18'11.00 5.90 19'04.25
Igor Pavlov Russia 5.80 19'00.25 5.80 19'00.25
Okkert Brits South Africa 5.75 18'10.25 6.03 19'09.25
Oscar Janson Sweden 5.61 18'04.75 5.87 19'03.00
Patrik Kristiansson Sweden 5.73 18'09.50 5.85 19'02.25
Jeff Hartwig United States 5.88 19'03.50 6.03 19'09.25
Toby Stevenson United States 5.81 19'00.75 5.81 19'00.75
Alexsandr Korchmyd Ukraine 5.65 18'06.50 5.75 18'10.25
Denis Yurchenko Ukraine 5.75 18'10.25 5.81 19'00.75

This is a pretty stacked field that contains nearly every major
player on the circuit. Weird how 19-foot jumps have become pretty
scarce once again. A few years back it looked as if the rest of the
world had finaly caught up to Bubka but the ast two years have seen
another decline. Not a huge one but definitely a noticable one.
Perhaps this Olympic season we'll see the big heights.

Anyway there really is no clear cut favorite as only 5 inches
separate the top 12 competitors. This could be a real war...

Amongst the missing include Derek Miles (US), Russ Buller (US),
Tommy Skipper (US), Ruslan Yeremenko (UKR), Tye Harvey (US), Michael
Stolle (GER) and Yevgeniy Mikhaylichenko (RUS)

[VaultnGus]

(2/5)

-------------------------
Stephanie McCann - Canada
-------------------------

Personal Best : 4.41m 14'05.50 Atascadero, CA 07/09/03
Seasonal Best : 4.35m 14'03.25 Flagstaff, AZ 02/07/04

Height : 1.71m
Weight : 59kg
Date of Birth : 04/22/77

Championship Resume :

1st 1999 NAIA Indoor Championships 3.51m 11'06.25"
2nd 1999 NAIA Outdoor Championships 3.70m 12'01.50"
2nd 2000 NAIA Outdoor Championships 4.00m 13'01.50"
dnq 2001 World Outdoor Championships 4.25m 13'11.25" in q round
5th 2001 World University Games 4.10m 13'05.25"
3rd 2002 Commonwealth Games 4.20m 13'09.25"
3rd 2003 Pan American Games 4.20m 13'09.25"
dnq 2003 World Outdoor Championships 4.00m 13'01.25" in q round

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

02/07 4.35 14'03.25" 1 Mountain T's Invite Flagstaff AZ
02/13 4.30 14'01.25" 4 Tyson Invitational Fayetteville AR
02/28 4.30 14'01.25" 1 Bratislava CZE

outdoor :

01/31 3.97 13'00.25" 1 Azusa CA

VaultnGus sez :

The Canadian record holder has been steadily improving over the
last few years and is now pretty consistently over 14'. She's been
training down with the No Limit crew down in California and it's
seems to have done a world of good

http://www.polevault.com/canada/bio/nam ... anieMcCann
http://home.apu.edu/~kreid//mccann.html

-------------------
Gao Shuying - China
-------------------

Personal Best : 4.52m 14'10.00 Beijing, CHN 08/29/01
Seasonal Best : 4.36m 14'03.50 Moscow, RUS 01/18/04

Height : 1.83m 6'00"
Weight : 68kg 150lb
Date of Birth : 10/28/79

Championship Resume :

q 1998 World Junior Championships 3.90m 12'09.50" in q round
8th 1998 World Junior Championships 3.90m 12'09.50" in f round
q 1999 World University Games 3.60m 11'09.75" in q round
q 2000 Olympic Games 4.30m 14'01.25" in q round
10th 2000 Olympic Games 4.15m 13'07.25" in f round
q 2001 World Outdoor Championships 4.35m 14'03.25" in q round
5th 2001 World Outdoor Championships 4.50m 14'09.00" in f round
4th 2002 World Cup 4.30m 14'01.25"
dnq 2003 World Indoor Championships NH NH in q round
q 2003 World Outdoor Championships 4.35m 14'03.25" in q round
9th 2003 World Outdoor Championships 4.35m 14'03.25" in f round

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

01/18 4.20 13'09.25" 3 Moscow Championships Moscow RUS
02/14 4.36 14'03.50" 1 NGP Shanghai CHN
02/28 4.35 14'03.25" 8 Gaz de France Lievin FRA

VaultnGus sez :

Gao is another one of the young vaulters that is consistently over
14' but hasn't yet made the 'great leap forward' to the elites at
15'+. Rarely seen (save for WC & Olympics) outside of the far east.

Folks forget that back in the late 80's/early 90's when the women's
vault was in it's infancy the Chinese ruled the world. An excerpt
from Roger Ruth's extensive records of the women's world record
progression shows...

3.72 12'02.50" Zhang Chunzhen (CHN) 1988-04-20 Guangzhou
3.73 12'02.75" Shao Jingmen (CHN) 1988-05-04 Guangzhou
3.75 12'03.50" Zhang Chunzhen (CHN) 1988-06-10 Nanjing
3.76 12'04.00" Zhou Minxin (CHN) 1989-04-22 Fuzhou
3.80 12'05.50" Zhang Chunzhen (CHN) 1989-09-09 Guangzhou
3.81 12'06.00" Zhang Chunzhen (CHN) 1990-03-24 Guangzhou
3.83 12'06.75" Sun Caiyun (CHN) 1991-03-24 Guangzhou
3.83 12'06.75" Zhang Chunzhen (CHN) 1991-03-24 Guangzhou
4.00 13'01.50" Zhang Chunzhen (CHN) 1991-03-24 Guangzhou
4.02 13'02.25" Zhang Chunzhen (CHN) 1991-06-05 Beijing
4.05 13'03.50" Zhang Chunzhen (CHN) 1991-08-10 Guangzhou
4.05* 13'03.50" Sun Caiyun (CHN) 1992-05-21 Nanjing
4.11 13'05.75" Sun Caiyun (CHN) 1993-03-21 Guangzhou
4.12 13'06.25" Sun Caiyun (CHN) 1994-10-22 Guangzhou
4.12 13'06.25" Sun Caiyun (CHN) 1994-11-24 Guangzhou
4.06* 13'03.75" Sun Caiyun (CHN) 1995-03-25 Guangzhou
4.08* 13'04.50" Zhong Guiquing (CHN) 1995-05-18 Taiyuan
4.08* 13'04.50" Sun Caiyun (CHN) 1995-05-18 Taiyuan

Daniela Bartova of the Czech Republic then proceeded to rattle off
10 WR's of her own during the summer of '95 before Sun regained it
(for 25 days) at the end of '95

4.23* 13'10.50" Sun Caiyun (CHN) 1995-11-05 Shenzhen

Since then it's been Emma George, Stacy Dragila, Svetlana Feofanova &
Yelena Isinbayeva staking claim to the WR. The Chinese have been left
in the dust. Shuying is the only one that's come close since...

----------------------------------
Katerina Badurova - Czech Republic
----------------------------------

Personal Best : 4.35m 14'03.25" Prague, CZE 02/11/04
Seasonal Best : 4.35m 14'03.25" Prague, CZE 02/11/04

Height : 1.66m
Weight : 58kg
Date of Birth : 12/18/82

Championship Resume :

5th 1999 World Youth Games U17 3.75m 12'03.50"
dnq 2002 European Indoor Championships 4.00m 13'01.50" in q round
dnq 2002 European Outdoor Championships 3.80m 12'05.50" in q round

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

02/07 4.10 13'05.25" 1 Prague CZE
02/11 4.35 14'03.25" 1 Prague CZE
02/21 4.30 14'01.25" 1 Czech Championships Prague CZE
02/27 4.30 14'01.25" 4 Erdgas Chemnitz GER

VaultnGus sez :

hmmm wonder what happend to her teammate 2001 Indoor World champ
Pavla Hamackova. Hasn't jumped this indoor season. 21 year old
Katerina has performed decently in her place. SHe's won a few
local meets and her national championship and took a respectable
4th at the loaded Chemnitz vault. Still not a threat to the leaders
though.

-----------------------
Vanessa Boslak - France
-----------------------

Personal Best : 4.50m 14'09.00 Aubiere, FRA 02/22/04
Seasonal Best : 4.50m 14'09.00 Aubiere, FRA 02/22/04

Height : 1.67m
Weight : 52kg
Date of Birth : 06/11/82

Championship Resume :

6th 1998 World Junior Champs-U19 4.00m 13'01.50" in f round
3rd 2000 World Junior Champs 4.10m 13'05.25"
5th 2001 European Cup 4.20m 13'09.25"
3rd 2001 European Junior Champs-U19 4.15m 13'07.25" in f round
3rd 2002 European Cup 4.45m 14'07.25"
q 2002 European Outdoor Championships 4.30m 14'01.25" in q round
11th 2002 European Outdoor Championships 4.20m 13'09.25" in f round
q 2003 World Indoor Championships 4.35m 14'03.25" in q round
--- 2003 World Indoor Championships 0.00m NH in f round
q 2003 European Junior Champs U-22 4.15m 13'07.25" in q round
2nd 2003 European Junior Champs U-22 4.40m 14'05.25" in f round
dnq 2003 World Outdoor Championships 4.15m 13'07.25" in q round

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

12/13 4.21 13'09.50" 1 Aulnay-sous-Bois FRA
01/31 4.40 14'05.25" 7 Sparkassen Cup Stuttgart GER
02/06 4.46 14'07.50" 1 Eaubonne FRA
02/22 4.50 14'09.00" 1 French Champs Aubiere FRA
02/28 4.35 14'03.25" 5 Gaz de France Lievin FRA

VaultnGus sez :

Another 21 year old. Lotsa younguns in this competition. PR'd two
weeks ago at the French championships and has been consistent in
the mid-14's all season. Could be a suprise...

------------------------
Carolin Hingst - Germany
------------------------

Personal Best : 4.51m 14'09.50 Salamanca, ESP 07/15/03
Seasonal Best : 4.40m 14'05.25 Chemnitz, GER 02/27/04

Date of Birth : 09/18/80

Championship Resume :

q 2001 European Junior Champs-U22 4.05m 13'03.50" in q round
3rd 2001 European Junior Champs-U22 4.30m 14'01.25" in f round
q 2001 World Outdoor Championships 4.35m 14'03.25" in q round
10th 2001 World Outdoor Championships 4.25m 13'11.25" in f round
dnq 2002 European Outdoor Championships 4.30m 14'01.25" in q round
dnq 2003 World Outdoor Championships 4.25m 13'11.25" in q round

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

01/18 4.30 14'01.25" 2 Ludwigshafen GER
01/23 4.25 13'11.25" 2 Springermeeting Wuppertal GER
01/30 4.25 13'11.25" 1 Springermeeting Zweibrucken GER
01/31 4.25 13'11.25" 8 Sparkassen Cup Stuttgart GER
02/04 4.00 13'01.50" 8 Sparkassen Meeting Dortmund GER
02/11 4.10 13'05.25" 2 Prague CZE
02/21 4.30 14'01.25" 2 German Championships Dortmund GER
02/27 4.40 14'05.25" 3 Erdgas Chemnitz GER

VaultnGus sez :

Carolin was one of the big German threats a few years ago but has
since been eclipsed by countrywomen Annika Becker and Yvonne
Buschbaum.

------------------------
Nastja Ryshich - Germany
------------------------

Personal Best : 4.50m 14'09.00 Maebashi, JPN 03/05/99
Seasonal Best : 4.50m 14'09.00 Dortmund, GER 02/04/04

Date of Birth : 09/19/77

Championship Resume :

q 1998 European Outdoor Championships 4.10m 13'05.25" in q round
4th 1998 European Outdoor Championships 4.15m 13'07.25" in f round
1st 1999 World Indoor Championships 4.50m 14'09.00"
q 1999 European Junior Champs U22 3.90m 12'09.50" in q round
2nd 1999 European Junior Champs U22 4.25m 13'11.25" in q round
--- 1999 World Outdoor Championships NH NH

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

01/11 4.25 13'11.25" 1 Ludwigshafen GER
01/18 4.40 14'05.25" 1 Ludwigshafen GER
01/23 4.15 13'07.25" 4 Springermeeting Wuppertal GER
01/30 4.31 14'01.75" 2 Boston Indoor Games Roxbury MA
02/04 4.50 14'09.00" 4 Sparkassen Meeting Dortmund GER
02/14 4.42 14'06.00" 8 Pole Vault Stars Donetsk UKR
02/21 4.35 14'03.25" 1 German Championships Dortmund GER

VaultnGus sez :

Nastja set a few indoor world records back in the late 90's (if my
memory serves me correct) and even won the 1999 edition of the World
Indoor Champs with a PR that still stands. Since then - aside from a
few mid-13' jumps here and there - nothing! Hasn't appeared in a
major championship since that '99 campaign. What happened?

This year she's come back with a vengeance. Even tied her 5-year-old
PR on February 4th. Unfortuantely these days that's only good enough
for 4th. A week later 3 inches lower was only good enough for EIGHTH.

---------------------------
Georgia Tsiliggiri - Greece
---------------------------

Personal Best : 4.40m 14'05.25" Trikala, GRE 06/24/03
Seasonal Best : 4.30m 14'01.25" Athens, GRE 01/31/04

Date of Birth : 06/21/72

Championship Resume :

dnq 1998 European Indoor Championships 3.80m 12'05.50" in q round
dnq 1998 European Outdoor Championships 3.80m 12'05.50" in q round
17th 1999 World Indoor Championships 4.05m 13'03.50"
4th 2001 Mediteranean Games 3.80m 12'05.50"
dnq 2002 European Indoor Championships 4.20m 13'09.25" in q round
dnq 2002 European Outdoor Championships 4.00m 13'01.50" in q round
4th 2003 European Cup 4.30m 14'01.25"

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

01/24 3.95 12'11.50" 3 Athens GRE
01/31 4.30 14'01.25" 1 Athens GRE
02/07 4.20 13'09.25" 2 Greek Championships Athens GRE
02/22 4.25 13'11.25" 5 Athina 2004 Athens GRE
02/28 4.25 13'11.25" 1 Balkan Championships Athens GRE

VaultnGus sez :

Georgia has been truckin' along quite happy to be one of the top
Greek vaulters year after year while not really making a dent on
the world scene. Hasn't vaulted outside of Athens this year. It
would be kinda cool to see her shock a medal at the Olympics this
year wouldn't it?

---------------------
Tunde Vaszi - Hungary
---------------------

Personal Best : 4.30m 14'01.25" Budapest, HUN 02/17/04
Seasonal Best : 4.30m 14'01.25" Leipzig, GER 02/06/04

Date of Birth : 04/18/72
Height : 1.70m
Weight : 60kg

Championship Resume :

dnq 2002 European Outdoor Championships 4.20m 13'09.25" in q round

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

01/23 4.25 13'11.25" 3 Springermeeting Wuppertal GER
01/30 4.00 13'01.50" 4 Springermeeting Zweibrucken GER
02/04 4.00 13'01.50" 7 Sparkassen Meeting Dortmund GER
02/06 4.30 14'01.25" 2 Leipzig GER
02/15 4.20 13'09.25" 1 Budapest HUN
02/24 4.30 14'01.25" 1 Hungarian Champs Budapest HUN
02/27 4.30 14'01.25" 5 Erdgas Chemnitz GER

VaultnGus sez :

Last year she long jumped. This year she's back to vaulting. Weird
how you rarely see vaulters double up at championship meets (besides
the decathlon on a few occasions). You'd think there would be a few
that could high jump or long jump at a world caliber level...

---------------------------
Thorey Elisdottir - Iceland
---------------------------

Personal Best : 4.51m 14'09.50 Fayetteville, AR 03/10/01
Seasonal Best : 4.50m 14'09.00 Athens, GRE 02/22/04

Height : 1.80m
Weight : 67kg
Date of Birth : 06/30/77
College : University of Georgia (one year - 2001)

Championship Resume :

dnq 1998 European Indoor Championships 3.80m 12'05.50" in q round
dnq 1998 European Outdoor Championships 3.80m 12'05.50" in q round
9th 1999 World Indoor Championships 4.20m 13'09.25"
13th 1999 World Outdoor Championships 4.15m 13'07.25"
5th 1999 European Under-23 Championships 4.15m 13'07.25"
dnq 2000 Olympics 4.00m 13'01.50" in q round
1st 2001 NCAA Indoor Championships 4.51m 14'09.50"
4th 2001 NCAA Outdoor Championships 4.10m 13'05.25"
q 2001 World Outdoor Championships 4.35m 14'03.25" in q round
6th 2001 World Outdoor Championships 4.45m 14'07.25" in f round
q 2002 European Outdoor Championships 4.30m 14'01.25" in q round
11th 2002 European Outdoor Championships 4.20m 13'09.25" in f round
dnq 2003 World Indoor Championships 4.30m 14'01.25" in q round
dnq 2003 World Outdoor Championships NH NH in q round

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

01/29 4.36 14'03.50" 3 TEAG Indoor Meeting Erfurt GER
02/06 4.30 14'01.25" 3 Leipzig GER
02/14 4.32 14'02.00" 9 Pole Vault Stars Donetsk UKR
02/22 4.50 14'09.00" 3 Athina 2004 Athens GRE
02/28 4.35 14'03.25" 3 Gaz de France Lievin FRA

VaultnGus sez :

Man when Thorey won the 2001 NCAA Indoor title she smoked 4.51
14'09.50 - we all thought she was gonna be the next big thing.
Since then she's performed admirably but hasn't made it to the
next level. Came close to her PR at the Athina 2004 meet and has
competed well in some of the most loaded meets this year but will
need a BIG jump to medal here.

[VaultnGus]

(3/5)

-----------------------------
Melina Hamilton - New Zealand
-----------------------------

Personal Best : 4.40m 14'05.25 Gold Coast, AUS 04/12/03
Seasonal Best : 4.20m 13'09.25 North Shore, NZL 02/14/04

Height : 1.72m
Weight : 64kg
Date of Birth : 06/15/76

Championship Resume :

7th 1998 Commonwealth Games 3.90m 12'09.50"
q 2002 Commonwealth Games 4.00m 13'01.50" in q round
9th 2002 Commonwealth Games 3.90m 12'09.50" in f round
dnq 2003 World Outdoor Championships 4.00m 13'01.50" in q round

2004 Season Results :

outdoor :

01/15 4.10 13'05.25" 1 Potts Meet Hastings NZL
02/14 4.20 13'09.25" 1 Northsport North Shore NZL
02/17 3.90 12'09.50" 1 Porritt Hamilton NZL
02/28 4.15 13'07.25" 3 Australian Champs Sydney AUS

VaultnGus sez :

There's a great article about Melina on the New Zealand Pole Vault
website.

http://www.coolrunning.co.nz/nzpv/artic ... 3r006.html

---------------------
Monika Pyrek - Poland
---------------------

Personal Best : 4.65m 15'03.00 Spala, POL 02/21/04
Seasonal Best : 4.65m 15'03.00 Spala, POL 02/21/04

Height : 1.68m
Weight : 52kg
Date of Birth : 08/11/80

Championship Resume :

10th 1997 European Junior Championships 3.80m 12'05.50" in f round
3rd 1998 World Junior Championships 4.10m 13'05.25" in f round
7th 1998 European Championships 4.15m 13'07.25" in f round
11th 1999 World Indoor Championships 4.20m 13'09.25"
4th 1999 European Junior Championships 4.10m 13'05.25" in f round
dnq 2000 European Championships 4.20m 13'09.25" in q round
q 2000 Olympic Games 4.30m 14'01.25" in q round
7th 2000 Olympic Games 4.40m 14'05.25" in f round
q 2001 European Junior Champs-22 4.05m 13'03.50" in q round
1 2001 European Junior Champs-22 4.40m 14'05.25" in f round
q 2001 World Outdoor Championships 4.35m 14'03.25" in q round
3 2001 World Outdoor Championships 4.55m 14'11.00" in f round
4 2001 Goodwill Games 4.35m 14'03.25"
3 2002 European Indoor Championships 4.60m 15'01.00" in f round
4 2002 European Cup 4.20m 13'09.25"
dnq 2002 European Championships 4.30m 14'01.25' in q round
q 2003 World Indoor Championships 4.35m 14'03.25" in q round
3rd 2003 World Indoor Championships 4.45m 14'07.25" in f round
q 2003 World Outdoor Championships 4.40m 14'05.25" in q round
4th 2003 World Outdoor Championships 4.55m 14'11.00" in f round

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

01/31 4.40 14'05.25" 5 Sparkassen Cup Stuttgart GER
02/07 4.61 15'01.50" 1 Spala POL
02/14 4.52 14'10.00" 4 Pole Vault Stars Donetsk UKR
02/21 4.65 15'03.00" 1 Polish Championships Spala POL
02/27 4.60 15'01.00" 1 Erdgas Chemnitz GER

VaultnGus :

Monika's the only one with a real legit shot to knock one of the
mighty triumverate off their pedestals and steal a medla. Her
season record is outstanding - 3 meets over 15', another over
14'10 - plus she has medals from last year's World Indoors and
the 2001 World Outdoors. He championship record while missing gold
has been of high quality - not a bum performance in the last 4
years. Plus she's only 23 - lots of years left.

----------------------
Anna Rogowska - Poland
----------------------

Personal Best : 4.52m 14'10.00 Donetsk, UKR 02/14/04
Seasonal Best : 4.52m 14'10.00 Donetsk, UKR 02/14/04

Height : 1.70m
Weight : 52kg
Date of Birth : 05/21/81

Championship Resume :

dnq 2002 European Indoor Championships 4.20m 13'09.25" in q round
q 2002 European Outdoor Championships 4.40m 14'05.25" in q round
7th 2002 European Outdoor Championships 4.30m 14'01.25" in f round
q 2003 World Indoor Championships 4.35m 14'03.25" in q round
6th 2003 World Indoor Championships 4.35m 14'03.25" in f round
q 2003 European U-22 Championships 4.20m 13'09.25" in q round
3rd 2003 European U-22 Championships 4.35m 14'03.25" in f round
q 2003 World Outdoor Championships 4.25m 13'11.25" in q round
7th 2003 World Outdoor Championships 4.45m 14'07.25" in f round

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

01/17 4.20 13'09.25" 1 Spala POL
01/31 4.40 14'05.25" 6 Sparkassen Cup Stuttgart GER
02/06 4.10 13'05.25" 5 Leipzig GER
02/14 4.52 14'10.00" 4 Pole Vault Stars Donetsk UKR
02/21 4.50 14'09.00" 2 Polish Championships Spala POL
02/27 4.40 14'05.25" 2 Erdgas Chemnitz GER

VautlnGus sez :

Monika's teammate has been hot on her heels all season. PR's at
the Pole Vault Stars meeting to take 4th. She qualified for every
major final last year. Only 22...

---------------------------
Svetlana Feofanova - Russia
---------------------------

Personal Best : 4.85m 15'11.00 Athens, GRE 02/22/04 World Record
Seasonal Best : 4.85m 15'11.00 Athens, GRE 02/22/04 World Record

Height : 1.63m
Weight : 50kg
Date of Birth : 07/16/80

Championship Resume :

dnq 2000 European Indoor Champs 4.00m 13'01.50" in q round
1st 2000 European Cup 4.35m 14'03.25"
dnq 2000 Olympic Games NH NH in q round
2nd 2001 World Indoor Champs 4.51m 14'09.50"
1st 2001 European Cup 4.60m 15'01.00"
2nd 2001 World Outdoor Champs 4.75m 15'07.00" in f round
2nd 2001 Goodwill Games 4.45m 14'07.25"
1st 2002 European Indoor Champs 4.75m 15'07.00" in f round
1st 2002 European Cup 4.70m 15'05.00"
1st 2002 European Outdoor Champs 4.60m 15'01.00" in f round
2nd 2002 World Cup 4.40m 14'05.25"
q 2003 World Indoor Championships 4.35m 14'03.25" in q round
1st 2003 World Indoor Championships 4.80m 15'09.00" in f round
q 2003 World Outdoor Championships 4.40m 14'05.25" in q round
1st 2003 World Outdoor Championships 4.75m 15'07.00" in f round

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

01/24 4.66 15'03.50" 2 Norwich Union Glasgow GBR
01/31 4.50 14'09.00" 3 Sparkassen Cup Stuttgart GER
02/04 4.75 15'07.00" 1 Sparkassen Meeting Dortmund GER
02/14 4.72 15'05.75" 2 Pole Vault Stars Donetsk UKR
02/22 4.85 15'11.00" 1 Athina 2004 Athens GRE
02/28 4.46 14'07.50" 2 Gaz de France Lievin FRA

Man is she gonna be tough to beat. She swept the indoor and outdoor
titles last year and has numerous other 1st's and 2nd's in her
resume. Plus she the current world record holder. Even so she has
some blemishes this year - 3 losses to Isinbayeva in 4 tries. This
could be veddy interesting...

--------------------------
Yelena Isinbayeva - Russia
--------------------------

Personal Best : 4.83m 15'10.00 Donetsk, UKR 02/14/04
Seasonal Best : 4.83m 15'10.00 Donetsk, UKR 02/14/04

Height : 1.70m
Weight : 59kg
Date of Birth : 06/03/82

Championship Resume :

9th 1999 World Junior Champs-U19 3.90m 12'09.50" in f round
5th 1999 European Junior Champs-U19 4.05m 13'03.50" in f round
q 2000 European Indoor Champs 4.30m 14'01.25" in q round
7th 2000 European Indoor Champs 4.05m 13'03.50" in f round
dnq 2000 Olympic Games NH NH in q round
1st 2000 World Junior Champs-U19 4.20m 13'09.25"
7th 2001 World Indoor Champs 4.25m 13'11.25"
1st 2001 European Junior Champs-U19 4.40m 14'05.25"
2nd 2002 European Outdoor Champs 4.55m 14'11.00" in f round
q 2003 World Indoor Championships 4.35m 14'03.25" in q round
2nd 2003 World Indoor Championships 4.60m 15'01.00" in f round
q 2003 European U-22 Championships 4.20m 13'09.25" in q round
1st 2003 European U-22 Championships 4.65m 15'03.00" in f round
q 2003 World Outdoor Championships 4.40m 14'05.25" in q round
3rd 2003 World Outdoor Championships 4.65m 15'03.00" in f round

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

01/24 4.76 15'07.25" 1 Norwich Union Glasgow GBR
01/31 4.68 15'04.25" 1 Sparkassen Cup Stuttgart GER
02/14 4.83 15'10.00" 1 Pole Vault Stars Donetsk UKR
02/22 4.50 14'09.00" 2 Athina 2004 Athens GRE

VaultnGus sez :

Yelena had the WR earlier this season only to have it yanked away
by Svetlana 8 days later. However it seems Yelena has her number
this year - 3 victories against one loss. At the WC's it's been a
different story - finished 2nd indoors and 3rd outdoors. Decent
enough heights but jsut not enough to win. Geez she's only 21 too...

--------------------
Noroa Agirre - Spain
--------------------

Personal Best : 4.45m 14'07.25 Arona, ESP 07/26/03
Seasonal Best : 4.35m 14'03.25 Valencia, ESP 02/21/04

Height : 1.77m
Weight : 67kg
Date of Birth : 03/15/79

Championship Resume :

q 2002 European Outdoor Champs 4.30m 14'01.25" in q round
10th 2002 European Outdoor Champs 4.30m 14'01.25" in f round
dnq 2003 World Indoor Championships 4.10m 13'05.25" in q round
dnq 2003 World Outdoor Championships 4.25m 13'11.25" in q round

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

11/29 4.00 13'01.50" 1 San Sebastian ESP
12/13 4.15 13'07.25" 1 San Sebastian ESP
01/09 4.32 14'02.00" 1 San Sebastian ESP
01/31 4.31 14'01.75" 2 Vodafone Zaragoza ESP
02/07 4.25 13'11.25" 1 San Sebastian ESP
02/14 4.32 14'02.00" 2 Vodafone Valencia ESP
02/21 4.35 14'03.25" 2 Spanish Championships Valencia ESP

VaultnGus sez :

Naroa has been doing alright in her native land but when she faces
the tougher competition outside of Spain it's no contest. She'll
be lucky to make the final here...

----------------------
Dana Cervantes - Spain
----------------------

Personal Best : 4.46m 14'07.50" Zaragoza, ESP 02/01/04
Seasonal Best : 4.46m 14'07.50" Zaragoza, ESP 02/01/04

Date of Birth : 08/18/78
Height : 1.66m
Weight : 63kg

Championship Resume :

12th 1997 European Junior Champs U19 3.60m 11'09.75"
dnq 1997 World University Games 3.80m 12'05.50" in q round
dnq 1998 European Indoor Championships 3.80m 12'05.50" in q round
1st 1998 Ibero-American Championships 3.95m 12'11.50"
q 1998 European Outdoor Championships 4.15m 13'07.25" in q round
11th 1998 European Outdoor Championships 4.05m 13'03.50" in f round
q 1999 World University Games 4.05m 13'03.50" in q round
3rd 1999 World University Games 4.10m 13'05.25" in f round
q 1999 European Junior Champs U22 3.80m 12'05.50" in q round
3rd 1999 European Junior Champs U22 4.15m 13'07.25" in f round
14th 1999 World Outdoor Championships 4.15m 13'07.25"
4th 2001 World University Games 4.10m 13'05.25"
1st 2001 Meditteranean Games 4.10m 13'05.25"
dnq 2002 European Indoor Championships 4.20m 13'09.25" in q round
dnq 2002 European Outdoor Championships 4.15m 13'07.25" in q round
3rd 2002 World Cup 4.30m 14'01.25"
5th 2002 European Cup 4.20m 13'09.25"

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

12/28 4.15 13'07.25" 1 Zaragoza ESP
01/06 4.31 14'01.75" 1 Zaragoza ESP
01/11 4.35 14'03.25" 1 Valencia ESP
01/18 4.20 13'09.25" 1 Monachil ESP
01/25 4.40 14'05.25" 1 Valencia ESP
02/01 4.46 14'07.50" 1 Vodafone Zaragoza ESP
02/14 4.42 14'06.00" 1 Vodafone Valencia ESP
02/21 4.40 14'05.25" 1 Spanish Championships Valencia ESP
02/28 4.35 14'03.25" 6 Gaz de France Lievin FRA

VaultnGus sez :

Dana's story is similar but she's got a shot at the final. She's
hit mid-14's several times this year and got yet another Spanish
record for her troubles.

--------------------------
Hanna-Mia Persson - Sweden
--------------------------

Personal Best : 4.35m 14'03.25" Malmo, SWE 02/29/04
Seasonal Best : 4.35m 14'03.25" Malmo, SWE 02/29/04


Date of Birth : 2/11/78
Height : 1.77m
Weight : 61kg

Championship Resume :

dnq 2001 World Outdoor Championships 4.15m 13'07.25" in q round
dnq 2002 European Indoor Championships 4.00m 13'01.50" in q round
dnq 2002 European Outdoor Championships 4.15m 13'07.25" in q round

2004 Season Results :

01/18 4.10 13'05.25" 1 Goteborg SWE
01/24 4.16 13'07.50" 3 Norwich Union Glasgow GBR
02/03 0.00 NH x Eurojump Goteborg SWE
02/14 4.15 13'07.25" 1 Satra SWE
02/22 4.09 13'05.00" 2 Goteborg SWE
02/29 4.35 14'03.25" 1 Swedish Championships Malmo SWE

VaultnGus sez :

Persson was a late addition having just hit her qualifier a scant
4 days ago in winning the Swedish championships. Hasn't had much
luck qualifying for finals in major meets but hey anything can
happen

-----------------------------
Stacy Dragila - United States
-----------------------------

Personal Best : 4.81m 15'09.25" Palo Alto, CA 06/09/01
Seasonal Best : 4.71m 15'05.50" Flagstaff, AZ 01/17/04

Current Residence : ???, AZ
Club : Nike-Sky Athletics
College : Yuba CC '92, Idaho State '95
High School : Placer HS, Auburn, Calif. '90
Height : 1.72m 5'07.50"
Weight : 63kg 140lb
Date of Birth : 03/25/71 Auburn, CA

http://www.stacydragila.com/
http://www.stacy.dragila.net/

Championship Resume :

2nd 1995 USATF Outdoor Championships 3.50m 11'05.75"
1st 1996 USATF Indoor Championships 4.10m 13'05.25"
1st 1996 USATF Outdoor Championships 4.20m 13'09.25"
1st 1997 USATF Indoor Championships 4.00m 13'01.50"
q 1997 World Indoor Championships 4.00m 13'01.50" in q round
1st 1997 World Indoor Championships 4.40m 14'05.25" in f round
1st 1997 USATF Outdoor Championships 4.30m 14'01.25"
1st 1998 USATF Indoor Championships 4.30m 14'01.25"
2nd 1998 USATF Outdoor Championships 4.10m 13'05.25"
--- 1998 Goodwill Games NH NH
1st 1999 USATF Indoor Championships 4.45m 14'07.25"
8th 1999 World Indoor Championships 4.35m 14'03.25"
1st 1999 USATF Outdoor Championships 4.45m 14'07.25"
1st 1999 World Outdoor Championships 4.60m 15'01.00"
1st 2000 USATF Indoor Championships 4.62m 15'01.75"
q 2000 USATF Outdoor Championships 4.02m 13'02.25" in q round
1st 2000 USATF Outdoor Championships 4.63m 15'02.25" in f round
q 2000 Olympic Games 4.30m 14'01.25" in q round
1st 2000 Olympic Games 4.60m 15'01.00" in f round
1st 2001 USATF Indoor Championships 4.56m 14'11.50"
4th 2001 World Indoor Championships 4.51m 14'09.50"
1st 2001 USATF Outdoor Championships 4.62m 15'01.75"
q 2001 World Outdoor Championships 4.35m 14'03.25" in q round
1st 2001 World Outdoor Championships 4.75m 15'07.00" in f round
1st 2002 USATF Outdoor Championships 4.65m 15'03.00"
1st 2003 USATF Indoor Championships 4.77m 15'08.25"
dnq 2003 World Indoor Championships NH NH in q round
1st 2003 USATF Outdoor Championships 4.50m 14'09.00"
q 2003 World Outdoor Championships 4.40m 14'05.25" in q round
4th 2003 World Outdoor Championships 4.55m 14'11.00" in f round
1st 2004 USATF Indoor Championships 4.70m 15'05.00"

2004 Season Results :

indoor

01/09 4.70 15'05.00" 1 Reno Pole Vault Summit Reno NV
01/17 4.71 15'05.50" 1 Springco Invitational Flagstaff AZ
01/24 4.40 14'05.25" 1 Western Indoor Classic Nampa ID
01/30 4.61 15'01.50" 1 Boston Indoor Games Roxbury MA
02/06 4.64 15'02.75" 1 Millrose Games New York NY
02/13 4.71 15'05.50" 1 Tyson Invitational Fayetteville AR
02/29 4.70 15'05.00" 1 USATF Indoor Champs Roxbury MA

VaultnGus sez :

Stacy has gone 7-for-7 on the US indoor circuit this year but hasn't
faced any of her major international competition yet this year. Last
year the Russians had her number and the some folks in the press have
been it's all over for Stacy. I say bullocks. She's switched coaches,
tried to refine her technique and switched to bigger poles. She's
been clearing these heights on her smaller sticks folks - once she
times up those bigger sticks 16 feet ain't far behind.

--------------------------------
Jillian Schwartz - United States
--------------------------------

Personal Best : 4.50m 14'09.00" Fayetteville, AR 02/13/04
Seasonal Best : 4.50m 14'09.00" Fayetteville, AR 02/13/04

Hometown : Lake Forest, IL
Club : Nike-Bell Athletics
College : Duke '01
Date of Birth : 09/19/79

Championship Resume :

3rd 2000 NCAA Outdoor Championships 4.10m 13'05.25"
dnq 2000 USATF Outdoor Championships 0.00m NH in q. round
7th 2001 NCAA Indoor Championships 4.00m 13'01.50"
3rd 2001 NCAA Outdoor Championships 4.20m 13'09.25"
6th 2001 USATF Outdoor Championships 4.20m 13'09.25"
2nd 2002 USATF Indoor Championships 4.26m 13'11.75"
10th 2002 USATF Outdoor Championships 4.10m 13'05.25"
6th 2003 USATF Indoor Championships 4.10m 13'05.25"
2nd 2003 USATF Outdoor Championships 4.40m 14'05.25"
dnq 2003 World Outdoor Championships 4.15m 13'07.25" in q round
2nd 2004 USATF Indoor Championships 4.40m 14'05.25"

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

01/09 4.17 13'08.25" 5 Reno Pole Vault Summit Reno NV
01/17 4.25 13'11.25" 1 Illinois Open Champaign IL
4.48 14'08.25" 2 Jonesboro AR
01/30 4.21 13'09.75" 3 Boston Indoor Games Roxbury MA
02/06 4.35 14'03.25" 2 Millrose Games New York NY
02/13 4.50 14'09.00" 2 Tyson Invitational Fayetteville AR
02/22 4.27 14'00.00" 2 Bell Last Chance Jonesboro AR
02/29 4.40 14'05.25" 1 USATF Indoor Champs Roxbury MA

VaultnGus sez :

Jillian smoked her berth-clinching height of 4.40 14'05.25 last
weekend and looked good at her 14'09 attempts. Sadly though that
probably won't get her on the medal stand in Budapest. Weird -
both American entrants are lefties. Actually as I say to all my
kids - there are no left handers, only right handers and wrong
handers heh heh...

[VaultnGus]

(4/5)

==============================================
2004 World Indoor Championships Men's Profiles
==============================================

------------------------
Paul Burgess - Australia
------------------------

Personal Best : 5.71m 18'08.75" Perth, AUS 01/20/01
Seasonal Best : 5.70m 18'08.25" Perth, AUS 02/07/04

Height : 1.83m
Weight : 78kg
Date of Birth : 08/14/79

Championship Resume :

3rd 1998 World Junior Champs-U19 5.20m 17'00.75"
3rd 1998 Commonwealth Games 5.50m 18'00.50"
dnq 2000 Olympic Games 5.55m 18'02.50" in q round
2nd 2001 East Asian Games 5.50m 18'00.50"
2nd 2002 Commonwealth Games 5.70m 18'08.25"
5th 2002 World Cup 5.20m 17'00.75"
dnq 2003 World Indoor Championships NH NH in q round

2004 Season Results :

outdoor :

01/11 5.40 17'08.50" 3 Telstra A-Series Perth AUS
01/18 5.55 18'02.50" 1 Perth AUS
01/24 5.65 18'06.50" 2 Telstra A-Series Brisbane AUS
02/07 5.70 18'08.25" 1 Perth AUS
02/12 5.55 18'02.50" 1 Telstra A-Series Melbourne AUS
02/15 5.65 18'06.50" 1 Perth AUS
02/22 5.60 18'04.50" 3 Perth AUS
02/29 5.30 17'04.50" 5 Australian Championships Sydney AUS

VaultnGus sez :

This will be Paul's first trip indoors this year having preferred
to enjoy the Australian summer. He's put up some decent marks and
nearly matched his '01 PR.

--------------------------
Dmitriy Markov - Australia
--------------------------

Personal Best : 6.05m 19'10.25" Edmonton, CAN 08/09/01
Seasonal Best : 5.75m 18'10.25" Brisbane, AUS 01/24/04

Height : 1.82m 6'00"
Weight : 80kg 181lb
Date of Birth : 03/14/75 (Vitebsk, Belarus)

Championship Resume :

2nd 1996 Russian Indoor Championships 5.75m 18'10.25"
1st 1996 European Indoor Championships 5.85m 19'02.25"
6th 1996 Olympic Games 5.86m 19'02.75"
7th 1997 Grand Prix Final 5.40m 17'08.50"
4th 1998 Grand Prix Final 5.80m 19'00.25"
1st 1998 Australian Chamos 5.50m 18'00.50"
2nd 1999 World Outdoor Championships 5.90m 19'04.25"
3rd 1999 Grand Prix Final 5.80m 19'00.25"
2nd 2000 Australian Championships 5.50m 18'00.50"
q 2000 Olympic Games 5.70m 18'08.25" in q.round
5th 2000 Olympic Games 5.80m 19'00.25" in f.round
1st 2001 Australina Championships 5.65m 18'06.50"
q 2001 World Outdoor Championships 5.70m 18'08.25" in q round
1st 2001 World Outdoor Championships 6.05m 19'10.25" in f round
4th 2002 Commonwealth Games 5.50m 18'00.50"
q 2003 World Outdoor Championships 5.70m 18'08.25" in q round
4th 2003 World Outdoor Championships 5.85m 19'02.25" in f round

2004 Season Results :

outdoor :

01/04 5.60 18'04.50" 1 Perth AUS
01/11 5.65 18'06.50" 1 Telstra A-Series Perth AUS
01/24 5.75 18'10.25" 1 Telstra A-Series Brisbane AUS
02/12 5.45 17'10.50" 3 Telstra A-Series Melbourne AUS
02/15 5.65 18'06.50" 2 Perth AUS
02/22 5.65 18'06.50" 1 Perth AUS
02/29 5.65 18'06.50" 1 Australian Championships Sydney AUS

VaultnGus sez :

Dmitriy hasn't broken the 19-foot barrier yet this year but as we
well know never count him out in a championship meet. Always seems
to get HUGE marks at big shows. Watch out!

------------------------
Spas Bukhalov - Bulgaria
------------------------

Personal Best : 5.70m 18'08.25" Plovdiv, BUL 05/31/03
Seasonal Best : 5.45m 17'10.50" Zweibrucken, GER 01/30/04

Height : 1.86m
Weight : 85kg
Date of Birth : 11/14/80

Championship Resume :

dnq 2001 European Junior Champs U-22 5.30m 17'04.50" in q round
dnq 2003 World Outdoor Championships 5.60m 18'04.50" in q round

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

01/28 5.40 17'08.50" 3 Springermeeting Cottbus GER
01/30 5.45 17'10.50" 4 Springermeeting Zweibrucken GER
02/04 5.31 17'05.00" 7 Sparkassen Meeting Dortmund GER
02/07 5.40 17'08.50" 8 Leipzig GER
02/28 5.20 17'00.75" 3 Balkan Championships Athens GRE

VaultnGus sez :

Uh... good luck Spas

------------------------
Ilian Efremov - Bulgaria
------------------------

Personal Best : 5.75m 18'10.25" Ostrava, CZE 06/11/03
Seasonal Best : 5.73m 18'09.50" Sofia, BUL 01/24/04

Height : 1.85m
Weight : 70kg
Date of Birth : 08/02/70

Championship Resume :

q 1998 European Indoor Championships 5.55m 18'02.50" in q round
7th 1998 European Indoor Championships 5.60m 18'04.50" in f round
dnq 2000 Olympic Games 5.55m 18'02.50" in q round
dnq 2002 European Indoor Championships 5.20m 17'00.75" in q round
dnq 2002 European Outdoor Championships 5.25m 17'02.75" in q round
dnq 2003 World Outdoor Championships 5.60m 18'04.50" in q round

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

01/24 5.73 18'09.50" 1 Sofia BUL
02/01 5.55 18'02.50" 1 Akademika Sofia BUL
02/07 5.50 18'00.50" 1 Bulgarian Championships Sofia BUL
02/11 5.30 17'04.50" 2 Prague CZE
02/28 5.30 17'04.50" 2 Balkan Championships Athens GRE

VaultnGus sez :

Ilian's getting on in years and hasn't made it to a major final
since 1998. His last two performances hasn't helped improve the
confidence factor either...

----------------------------
Adam Ptacek - Czech Republic
----------------------------

Personal Best : 5.81m 19'00.75" Chemnitz GER 02/07/03
Seasonal Best : 5.65m 18'06.50"

Height : 1.77m
Weight : 64kg
Date of Birth : 10/08/80

Championship Resume :

3rd 1998 World Junior Champs-U19 5.20m 17'00.75"
dnq 2000 European Indoor Champs 5.20m 17'00.75" in q round
7th 2001 European Junior Champs-U22 5.30m 17'04.50"
6th 2002 European Outdoor Champs 5.70m 18'08.25"
dnq 2003 World Indoor Championships 5.55m 18'02.50" in q round
dnq 2003 World Outdoor Championships 5.50m 18'00.50" in q round

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

01/31 5.65 18'06.50" 1 Prague CZE
02/07 5.60 18'04.50" 3 Leipzig GER
02/11 5.50 18'00.50" 1 Prague CZE
02/15 5.62 18'05.25" 2 LBBW Meeting Karlsruhe GER
02/21 5.40 17'08.50" 1 Czech Championships Prague CZE
02/27 5.30 17'04.50" 10 Erdgas Chemnitz GER

VaultnGus sez :

Adam and his Czech teammates looked like they had a chance of
springing into the elite realms last year but poor WC performances
indoor and outdoor put a damper on that. A decent season opener
has since given way to mediocre performances. Saving it for Athens
I guess...

-------------------------
Piotr Buciarski - Denmark
-------------------------

Personal Best : 5.75m 18'10.25" Fort-de-France FRA 04/27/02
Seasonal Best : 5.65m 18'06.50" Reno, NV 01/03/04

Height : 1.87m
Weight : 80kg
Date of Birth : 11/22/75

Championship Resume :

11th 1997 NCAA Indoor Championships 5.30m 17'04.50"
8th 1997 NCAA Outdoor Championships 5.25m 17'02.75"
2nd 1997 Danish Championships 5.40m 17'08.50"
8th 1997 European Junior Championships 5.20m 17'00.75"
3rd 1998 NCAA Indoor Championships 5.55m 18'02.50"
7th 1998 NCAA Outdoor Championships 5.30m 17'04.50"
11th 1999 NCAA Indoor Championships 5.30m 17'04.50"
--- 1999 NCAA Outdoor Championships nh nh
7th 1999 World University Games 5.40m 17'08.50"
dnq 2001 World Outdoor Championships 5.60m 18'04.50"
5th 2001 World University Games 5.50m 18'00.50"
7th 2002 European Indoor Championships 5.50m 18'00.50" in f round
11th 2002 European Outdoor Championships 5.50m 18'00.50" in f round
dnq 2003 World Indoor Championships 5.40m 17'08.50" in q round
dnq 2003 World Outdoor Championships 5.35m 17'06.50" in q round

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

01/10 5.60 18'04.50" 2 Pole Vault Summit Open Men Reno NV
01/17 5.30 17'04.50" 2 Washington Indoor Preview Seattle WA
01/30 5.65 18'06.50" 1 Silver State Invitational Reno NV
02/06 5.60 18'04.50" 4 Millrose Games New York NY
02/13 5.61 18'04.75" 2 Tyson Invitational Fayetteville AR
02/28 5.50 18'00.50" 2 Danish Championships Malmo SWE

VaultnGus sez :

Piotr just keeps hangin' on. I keep hearing great stories about
him from his old Oregon roommate (who shall remain nameless heh heh).
Has yet to make a WC final.

-----------------------
Matti Mononen - Finland
-----------------------

Personal Best : 5.65m 18'06.50" Lappeenranta, FIN 08/03/03
Seasonal Best : 5.60m 18'04.50" Helsinki, FIN 02/22/04

Height : 1.76m
Weight : 70kg
Date of Birth : 11/25/83

Championship Resume :

6th 2001 European Junior Championships U-19 5.20 17'00.75
7th 2002 World Junior Championships U-19 5.35 17'06.50
q 2003 European Junior Championships U-22 5.30 17'04.50 in q round
--- 2003 European Junior Championships U-22 NH NH in f round
dnq 2003 World Outdoor Championships 5.50 18'00.50 in q round

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

12/27 5.20 17'00.75" 1 Kuortane FIN
12/31 5.24 17'02.25" ? Turku FIN
01/27 5.50 18'00.50" 1 Botnia Games Tampere FIN
02/03 5.21 17'01.00" 6 Eurojump Goteborg SWE
02/14 5.30 17'04.50" 2 Stars Tampere FIN
02/22 5.60 18'04.50" 1 Finnish Championships Helsinki FIN
02/25 5.33 17'05.75" 5 Jump Gala Tallinn EST

VaultnGus sez :

Enjoy the Castle District, Trinity Square, Margaret Island and Vaci
Street Matti 'cuz that's all that Budapest is gonna have to offer
you after the prelims...

----------------------
Romain Mesnil - France
----------------------

Personal Best : 5.95m 19'06.25" Castres FRA 08/06/03
Seasonal Best : 5.71m 18'08.75" Stockholm, SWE 02/12/04

Height : 1.88m
Weight : 79kg
Date of Birth : 07/13/77

Championship Resume :

8th 1998 European Indoor Championships 5.50m 18'00.50"
1st 1999 European Under-23 Championships 5.93m 19'05.50"
6th 1999 World Indoor Championships 5.70m 18'08.25"
3rd 1999 World University Championships 5.55m 18'02.50"
1st 1999 European Junior Championships 5.93m 19'05.50"
q 1999 World Outdoor Championships 5.70m 18'08.25" in q round
nh 1999 World Outdoor Championships nh nh in f round
5th 2000 European Cup 5.60m 18'04.50"
dnq 2000 Olympic Games 5.40m 17'08.50" in q round
3rd 2001 World Indoor Championships 5.85m 19'02.25"
5th 2001 World Outdoor Championships 5.85m 19'02.25"
dnq 2002 European Indoor Championships 5.55m 18'02.50" in q round
dnq 2002 European Outdoor Championships NH NH in q round
q 2003 World Indoor Championships 5.65m 18'06.50" in q round
7th 2003 World Indoor Championships 5.60m 18'04.50" in f round
1st 2003 European Cup 5.75m 18'10.25"
dnq 2003 World Outdoor Championships 5.55m 18'02.50" in q round
4th 2004 European Cup 5.55m 18'02.50"

2004 Season Results :

02/01 5.65 18'06.50" 3 Russian Winter Meet Moscow RUS
02/08 0.00 NH x Flanders Indoor Ghent BEL
02/12 5.71 18'08.75" 3 GEG Stockholm SWE
02/14 5.55 18'02.50" 4 European Cup Leipzig GER
02/20 5.25 17'02.75" q French Championships Q Aubiere FRA
02/21 0.00 NH x French Championships F Aubiere FRA
02/25 0.00 NH x Jump Gala Tallinn EST

VaultnGus sez :

Geez is this guy inconsistent. Good in 99, bad in 2000, good in 01,
bad in 02, eh in 03 despite a big PR in August. OK early this season
fugly the last month or so including two straight NH's. Lotsa talent.
Which Romain will show up in Budapest?

-----------------------
Jerome Clavier - France
-----------------------

Personal Best : 5.65m 18'06.50" Aubiere, FRA 02/21/04
Seasonal Best : 5.65m 18'06.50" Aubiere, FRA 02/21/04

Date of Birth : 05/03/83

Championship Resume :

6th 2002 World Junior Championships U19 5.40m 17'008.50"
dnq 2003 European Junior Championships U22 5.20m 17'00.75" in q round
7th 2003 World University Games 5.40m 17'08.50"

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

12/13 5.56 18'03.00" 1 Aulnay-s.-B. FRA
01/24 5.40 17'08.50" 1 Paris FRA
01/31 5.40 17'08.50" 3 Aubiere FRA
02/14 5.45 17'10.50" 1 French Junior Champs Lievin FRA
02/21 5.65 18'06.50" 1 French Championships Aubiere FRA

VaultnGus sez :

20-year old Jerome is lucky the championships aren't in the states
'cuz after he's eliminated in the prelims he wouldn't have even be
able to go out and drown his sorrows with a few tasty brews...

----------------------
Tim Lobinger - Germany
----------------------

Personal Best : 6.00m 19'08.25" Koln, GER 08/24/97
Seasonal Best : 5.75m 18'10.25" Dortmund, GER 02/22/04

Height : 1.93m
Weight : 86kg
Date of Birth : 09/03/72

Championship Resume :

q 1996 Olympic Games 5.70m 18'08.25" in q round
7th 1996 Olympic Games 5.80m 19'00.25" in f round
q 1997 World Outdoor Championships 5.70m 18'08.25" in q round
4th 1997 World Outdoor Championships 5.80m 19'00.25" in f round
1st 1998 European Indoor Championships 5.80m 19'00.25"
2nd 1998 European Outdoor Championships 5.81m 19'00.75"
2nd 1998 World Cup 5.80m 19'00.25"
q 1999 World Outdoor Championships 5.70m 18'08.25" in q round
6th 1999 World Outdoor Championships 5.70m 18'08.25" in f round
--- 2000 European Indoor Championships NH NH
2nd 2000 European Cup 5.75m 18'10.25"
q 2000 Olympic Games 5.65m 18'06.50" in q round
13th 2000 Olympic Games 5.50m 18'00.50" in f round
1st 2002 European Indoor Championships 5.75m 18'10.25"
1st 2002 European Cup 5.75m 18'10.25"
3rd 2002 European Outdoor Championships 5.80m 19'00.25"
q 2003 World Indoor Championships 5.65m 18'06.50" in q round
1st 2003 World Indoor Championships 5.80m 19'00.25" in f round
q 2003 World Outdoor Championships 5.70m 18'08.25" in q round
5th 2003 World Outdoor Championships 5.80m 19'00.25" in f round

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

01/26 5.40 17'08.50" 9 Springermeeting Dessau GER
01/29 5.61 18'04.75" 1 TEAG Indoor Meeting Erfurt GER
01/31 5.60 18'04.50" 5 Sparkassen Cup Stuttgart GER
02/04 5.61 18'04.75" 3 Sparkassen Meeting Dortmund GER
02/15 5.72 18'09.25" 1 LBBW Meeting Karlsruhe GER
02/20 5.65 18'06.50" 1 Norwich Union Birmingham GBR
02/22 5.75 18'10.25" 1 German Championships Dortmund GER
02/27 5.70 18'08.25" 3 Erdgas Chemnitz GER
02/29 5.70 18'08.25" 2 LEA Leipzig GER

VaultnGus sez :

This guy jumps a lot and man is he fun to watch. I've pontificated
numerous times about his actions culminating in last year's full
moon performance in Europe. One of the few to crack the 6 meter
barrier and a stellar big meet performer. Won last years Indoor
meet.

--------------------
Bjorn Otto - Germany
--------------------

Personal Best : 5.81m 19'00.75" Leipzig, GER 02/29/04
Seasonal Best : 5.81m 19'00.75" Leipzig, GER 02/29/04

Date of Birth : 10/16/77
Height : 1.88m
Weight : 84kg

Championship Resume :

8th 1999 World University Games 5.40m 17'08.50"
q 2000 European Indoor Championships 5.50m 18'00.50" in q round
6th 2000 European Indoor Championships 5.50m 18'00.50" in f round
7th 2001 World University Games 5.35m 17'06.50"
3rd 2003 World University Games 5.50m 18'00.50"
1st 2004 European Cup 5.70m 18'08.25"

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

01/26 5.50 18'00.50" 6 Springermeeting Dessau GER
01/28 5.70 18'08.25" 1 Springermeeting Cottbus GER
01/29 5.51 18'01.00" 4 TEAG Indoor Meeting Erfurt GER
02/04 5.61 18'04.75" 2 Sparkassen Meeting Dortmund GER
02/07 5.60 18'04.50" 4 Leipzig GER
02/14 5.70 18'08.25" 1 European Cup Leipzig GER
02/22 5.70 18'08.25" 2 German Championships Dortmund GER
02/27 5.50 18'00.50" 6 Erdgas Chemnitz GER
02/29 5.81 19'00.75" 1 LEA Leipzig GER

VaultnGus sez :

Bjorn stole a win in Leipzig last weekend with a PR performance and
a gold key to the 19 foot club. Well done. Solid all season. Should
make the final

---------------------------
Alexsandr Averbukh - Israel
---------------------------

Personal Best : 5.93m 19'05.50" Madrid, ESP 07/19/03
Seasonal Best : 5.80m 19'00.25" Moscow, RUS 02/01/04

Height : 1.78m
Weight : 76kg
Date of Birth : 10/01/74

Championship Resume :

q 1999 World Outdoor Championships 5.65m 18'06.50" in q round
3rd 1999 World Outdoor Championships 5.80m 19'00.25" in f round
1st 2000 European Indoor Championships 5.75m 18'10.25"
q 2000 Olympic Games 5.65m 18'06.50" in q round
10th 2000 Olympic Games 5.50m 18'00.50" in f round
4th 2001 World Indoor Championships 5.70m 18'08.25"
q 2001 World Outdoor Championships 5.70m 18'08.25" in q round
2nd 2001 World Outdoor Championships 5.85m 19'02.25" in f round
1st 2001 World University Games 5.80m 19'00.25"
2nd 2001 Goodwill Games 5.80m 19'00.25"
1st 2002 European Outdoor Championships 5.85m 19'02.25"
--- 2002 World Cup nh nh
dnq 2003 World Indoor Championships 5.40m 17'08.50" in q round
dnq 2003 World Outdoor Championships nh nh in q round

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

02/01 5.80 19'00.25" 2 Russian Winter Meet Moscow RUS
02/03 5.71 18'08.75" 1 Eurojump Goteborg SWE
02/12 5.71 18'08.75" 2 GEG Stockholm SWE
02/14 5.72 18'09.25" 5 Pole Vault Stars Donetsk UKR
02/25 5.68 18'07.50" 2 Jump Gala Tallinn EST

VaultnGus sez :

Alexandr had a dismal championships last year but looks like he's
ready to rectify that situation. Hit 19' early in February and has
been within 12cm 4 times of that since. A contender...

--------------------------
Giuseppe Gibilisco - Italy
--------------------------

Personal Best : 5.90m 19'04.25" Saint-Denis, FRA 08/28/03
Seasonal Best : 5.82m 19'01.00" Donetsk, UKR 02/15/04

Height : 1.80m
Weight : 70kg
Date of Birth : 01/05/79

Championship Resume :

3rd 1998 World Junior Championships 5.20m 17'00.75"
9th 1999 European Junior Champs-U22 5.30m 17'04.50"
dnq 2000 European Indoor Champs 5.40m 17'08.50" in q round
4th 2000 European Cup 5.70m 18'08.25"
q 2000 Olympic Games 5.70m 18'08.25" in q round
10th 2000 Olympic Games 5.50m 18'00.50" in f round
3rd 2001 European Junior Champs-U22 5.50m 18'00.50"
dnq 2001 World Outdoor Champs nh nh in q round
dnq 2002 European Indoor Champs 5.40m 17'08.50" in q round
2nd 2002 European Cup 5.65m 18'06.50"
10th 2002 European Outdoor Champs 5.60m 18'04.50"
q 2003 World Indoor Championships 5.65m 18'06.50" in q round
8th 2003 World Indoor Championships 5.40m 17'08.50" in f round
2nd 2003 European Cup 5.70m 18'08.25"
q 2003 World Outdoor Championships 5.70m 18'08.25" in q round
1st 2003 World Outdoor Championships 5.90m 19'04.25" in f round

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

01/31 5.70 18'08.25" 2 Sparkassen Cup Stuttgart GER
02/04 5.71 18'08.75" 1 Sparkassen Meeting Dortmund GER
02/14 5.82 19'01.00" 1 Pole Vault Stars Donetsk UKR
02/21 5.40 17'08.50" 1 Italian Championships Genoa ITA

VaultnGus said last summer before the World Outdoor Champs :

He's done pretty decently in international competition as well and
he's a young dude to boot. He could be a contendah!

VaultnGus sez now :

Not only was he a contendah he was the winner with some beautiful
jumping (some which can be seen at the amazing http://
www.stabhochsprung.com/). The Petrov-trained Italian looks as if
he can definitely go higher. He won the Pole Vault Stars meeting
in Bubka's hometown at 5.82 19'01". A definite favorite for a medal

---------------------
Daichi Sawano - Japan
---------------------

Personal Best : 5.75m 18'10.25" Yokohama, JPN 06/08/03
Seasonal Best : 5.70m 18'08.25" Reno, NV 01/10/04

Height : 1.82m
Weight : 60kg
Date of Birth : 09/16/80

Championship Resume :

--- 2002 World Cup NH NH
q 2003 World Outdoor Championships 5.60m 18'04.50" in q round
DNS 2003 World Outdoor Championships ----- --------- in f round

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

01/10 5.70 18'08.25" 1 Reno PV Summit Open Men 1 Reno NV
02/18 5.60 18'04.50" 1 China vs. Japan Tianjin CHN
02/21 5.60 18'04.50" 1 Japan vs. China Yokohama JPN

VaultnGus sez :

Daichi hasn't jumped much this season but he did set a Japanese
indoor record at the Reno Summit to go along with his outdoor
record set last summer. He qualified for last year's outdoor
final but turned up injured and couldn't compete.

-------------------
Yoo-Suk Kim - Korea
-------------------

Personal Best : 5.55m 18'02.50" Los Angeles, CA 05/17/03
Seasonal Best : 5.40m 17'08.50" Reno, NV 01/10/04

College : UCLA '04
Date of Birth : 01/19/82
Height : 1.90m
Weight : 81kg

Championship Resume :

11th 2001 NCAA DI Outdoor Championships 5.30m 17'04.50"
q 2003 NCAA DI Outdoor Championships 5.15m 16'10.75" in q round
5th 2003 NCAA DI Outdoor Championships 5.30m 17'04.50" in f round
8th 2003 World University Games 5.30m 17'04.50"

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

01/10 5.40 17'08.50" 7 Reno PV Summit Open Men 1 Reno NV
01/31 5.15 16'10.75" 3 UW Indoor Invitational Seattle WA
02/07 5.06 16'07.25" 5 United Heritage Invite Nampa ID
02/14 5.31 17'05.00" 3 PAC-10 Invitational Seattle WA
02/27 5.33 17'05.75" 3 MPSF Championships Seattle WA

VaultnGus sez :

UCLA senior (and Deerfield Academy, MA graduate) Yoo-Suk Kim is
kind of a suprise entrant as he hasn't made the auto qualifier as
I can tell. But what the heck - he's a cool dude

Check out an awesome video of him clearing his PR 18'02.50 over at
NeoVault

http://www.neovault.com/videoclips2.asp

[VaultnGus]

(5/5)

-----------------------
Rens Blom - Netherlands
-----------------------

Personal Best : 5.75m 18'10.25" Ingolstadt, GER 06/18/00
Seasonal Best : 5.75m 18'10.25" Chemnitz, GER 02/27/04

Height : 1.78m
Weight : 75kg
Date of Birth : 03/01/77

Championship Resume :

10th 1997 European Under-23 Championships 5.20m 17'00.75"
dnq 1998 European Indoor Champs 5.55m 18'02.50" in q round
5th 1999 European Junior Championships 5.50m 18'00.50"
3rd 2000 European Indoor Championships 5.60m 18'04.50"
dnq 2000 Olympic Games 5.65m 18'06.50" in q round
q 2001 World Outdoor Champs 5.70m 18'08.25" in q round
--- 2001 World Outdoor Champs nh nh in f round
dnq 2002 European Outdoor Champs 5.25m 17'02.75" in q round
q 2003 World Indoor Championships 5.65m 18'06.50" in q round
3rd 2003 World Indoor Championships 5.75m 18'10.25" in f round
dnq 2003 World Outdoor Championships 5.60m 18'04.50" in q round
5th 2004 European Cup 5.40m 17'08.50"

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

01/26 5.40 17'08.50" 7 Springermeeting Dessau GER
01/31 5.70 18'08.25" 1 Sparkassen Cup Stuttgart GER
02/07 5.40 17'08.50" 9 Leipzig GER
02/12 5.66 18'06.75" 4 GEG Stockholm SWE
02/14 5.40 17'08.50" 5 European Cup Leipzig GER
02/20 5.55 18'02.50" 4 Norwich Union Birmingham GBR
02/21 5.40 17'08.50" 1 Dutch Championships Ghent BEL
02/27 5.75 18'10.25" 2 Erdgas Chemnitz GER

VaultnGus sez :

Rens took a suprise 3rd at last year's meet with a PR performance.
He's been up and down this year but you just never know what could
happen...

--------------------------------
Christian Tamminga - Netherlands
--------------------------------

Personal Best : 5.76m 18'10.75" Hechtel NED 08/01/98
Seasonal Best : 5.42m 17'09.50"

Height : 1.72m
Weight : 67kg
Date of Birth : 04/30/74

Championship Resume :

1st 1999 Israeli Championships 5.50m 18'00.50"
2nd 2000 Dutch Indoor Championships 5.40m 17'08.50"
3rd 2000 Israeli Outdoor Championships 5.40m 17'08.50"
q 2001 World Outdoor Championships 5.70m 18'08.25" in q round
6th 2001 World Outdoor Championships 5.75m 18'10.25" in f round
5th 2001 Goodwill Games 5.60m 18'04.50"
dnq 2002 European Indoor Championships NH NH in q round
dnq 2003 World Outdoor Championships 5.35m 17'06.50" in q round

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

02/15 5.42 17'09.25" 13 Pole Vault Stars Donetsk UKR
02/29 5.40 17'08.50" 1 Ghent BEL

VaultnGus sez :

Christian has had an extremely limited (and not very successful)
season so far. Best performance was a 6th at the 2001 World Outdoors
and hasn't PR'd since '98

------------------------
Pavel Gerasimov - Russia
------------------------

Personal Best : 5.90m 19'04.25" Rudlingen, GER 08/11/00
Seasonal Best : 5.77m 18'11.00" Donetsk, UKR 02/14/04

Height : 1.90m
Weight : 82kg
Date of Birth : 05/29/79

Championship Resume :

2nd 1997 European Junior Championships U-19 5.30 17'04.50
1st 1998 European Junior Championships U-19 5.55 18'02.50
dnq 2000 Olympic Games 5.40 17'08.50 in q round
5th 2001 World Indoor Championships 5.70 18'08.25
6th 2002 European Indoor Championships 5.60 18'04.50
12th 2002 European Outdoor Championships 5.40 17'08.50
dnq 2003 World Outdoor Championships 5.60 18'04.50 in q round

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

12/07 5.30 17'04.50" 2 CISM Catania ITA
01/07 5.60 18'04.50" 1 Christmas Cup Moscow RUS
01/18 5.45 17'10.50" 2 Moscow Championships Moscow RUS
01/26 5.60 18'04.50" 2 Springermeeting Dessau GER
01/28 5.30 17'04.50" 6 Springermeeting Cottbus GER
01/30 5.65 18'06.50" 1 Springermeeting Zweibrucken GER
02/03 5.61 18'04.75" 2 Eurojump Goteborg SWE
02/08 5.30 17'04.50" 5 Flanders Indoor Ghent BEL
02/14 5.77 18'11.00" 2 Pole Vault Stars Donetsk UKR
02/18 5.70 18'08.25" 2 Russian Championships Moscow RUS
02/25 5.63 18'05.50" 3 Jump Gala Tallinn EST

VaultnGus sez :

Pavel cleared some big heights back in 2000 but has had lots of
trouble matching that success since. Did take second at the Pole
Vault Stars meeting with a season best mark of 5.77 18'11.00".
Could sneak onto the podium

--------------------
Igor Pavlov - Russia
--------------------

Personal Best : 5.80m 19'00.25" Moscow, RUS 02/01/04
Seasonal Best : 5.80m 19'00.25" Moscow, RUS 02/01/04

Date of Birth : 07/18/79
Height : 1.87m
Weight : 78kg

Championship Resume :

2nd 2003 World University Games 5.65m 18'06.50"
2nd 2004 European Cup 5.65m 18'06.50"

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

12/07 5.45 17'10.50" 1 CISM Catania ITA
01/10 5.55 18'02.50" 1 Luch Yekaterinburg RUS
01/18 5.75 18'10.25" 1 Moscow Championships Moscow RUS
02/01 5.80 19'00.25" 1 Russian Winter Meet Moscow RUS
02/08 5.65 18'06.50" 1 Flanders Indoor Ghent BEL
02/14 5.65 18'06.50" 2 European Cup Leipzig GER
02/18 5.75 18'10.25" 1 Russian Championships Moscow RUS
02/20 5.45 17'10.50" 7 Norwich Union Birmingham GBR

VaultnGus sez :

Igor cracked the 19' barrier on the 1st of February and has had
several decent performances since.

*sigh* the Soviets just ain't what as scary as they used to be...

---------------------------
Okkert Brits - South Africa
---------------------------

Personal Best : 6.02m 19'09.50" Koln, GER 08/18/95
Seasonal Best : 5.75m 18'10.25"

Height : 1.98m
Weight : 84kg
Date of Birth : 10/22/73

Championship Resume :

1st 1995 Grand Prix Final 5.95m 19'06.25"
dnq 1996 Olympic Games nh nh in q round
6th 1997 World Indoor Championships 5.65m 18'06.50"
1st 1998 African Champs 5.40m 17'08.50"
q 1999 World Outdoor Championships 5.65m 18'06.50" in q round
??? 1999 World Outdoor Championships 5.50m 18'00.50" in f round
q 2000 Olympic Games 5.65m 18'06.50" in q round
7th 2000 Olympic Games 5.80m 19'00.25" in f round
7th 2001 World Indoor Championships 5.60m 18'04.50"
dnc 2001 World Outdoor Championships withdrew - injury
1st 2002 Commonwealth Games 5.75m 18'10.25"
1st 2002 World Cup 5.75m 18'10.25"
dnq 2003 World Indoor Championships nh nh in q round
q 2003 World Outdoor Championships 5.70m 18'08.25" in q round
2nd 2003 World Outdoor Championships 5.85m 19'02.25" in f round

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

02/27 5.75 18'10.25" 1 Erdgas Chemnitz GER
02/29 NH NH x LEA Leipzig GER

outdoor :

02/07 5.67 18'07.25" 1 Paarl RSA
02/20 5.65 18'06.50" 1 ABSA Series Pretoria RSA

VaultnGus sez :

Looks liek Brits has FINALLY gotten over the big meet jitters. He
looked like his former self in booming over 5.85 19'02.25" at last
years outdoor champs. Hasn't had much luck indoors in the past save
for a 19'04.25" back in the Toronto skydome duringhte meet in which
Donovan Bailey and Michael Johnson raced each other one-on-one at
150m

---------------------
Oscar Janson - Sweden
---------------------

Personal Best : 5.87m 19'03.00" Somero, ITA 06/29/03
Seasonal Best : 5.61m 18'04.75" Stockholm, SWE 02/12/04

Height : 1.92m
Weight : 89kg
Date of Birth : 07/22/75

Championship Resume :

5th 1999 World University Championships 5.40m 17'08.50"
dnq 2000 European Indoor Championships 5.40m 17'08.50" in q round
9th 2002 European Outdoor Championships 5.60m 18'04.50" in f round
dnq 2003 World Outdoor Championships NH NH in q round

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

02/03 0.00 NH x Eurojump Goteborg SWE
02/12 5.61 18'04.75" 6 GEG Stockholm SWE
02/15 5.42 17'09.25" 11 Pole Vault Stars Donetsk UKR
02/21 5.58 18'03.75" 1 Swedish Championships Goteborg SWE
02/29 5.60 18'04.50" 3 LEA Leipzig GER

VaultnGus sez :

Oscar shocked everyone when that 5.87 19'03" was reported last
year but hasn't come close to matching it since.

----------------------------
Patrik Kristiansson - Sweden
----------------------------

Personal Best : 5.85m 19'02.25" Helsinki, FIN 08/23/02
Seasonal Best : 5.73m 18'09.50" Tallinn, EST 02/25/04

Height : 1.91m
Weight : 85kg
Date of Birth : 06/03/77

Championship Resume :

2nd 1996 World Junior Championships 5.30m 17'04.50"
dnq 1998 European Outdoor Championships 5.40m 17'08.50" in q round
dnq 1999 World Outdoor Championships 5.40m 17'08.50" in q round
1st 2000 World Youth Games 5.60m 18'04.50"
3rd 2000 European Cup 5.70m 18'08.25"
dnq 2000 Olympic Games 5.55m 18'02.50" in q round
dnq 2001 World Outdoor Championships 5.60m 18'04.50" in q round
2nd 2002 European Indoor Championships 5.75m 18'10.25" in f round
4th 2002 European Outdoor Championships 5.80m 19'00.25" in f round
dnq 2003 World Indoor Championships 5.60m 18'04.50" in q round
q 2003 World Outdoor Championships 5.70m 18'08.25" in q round
3rd 2003 World Outdoor Championships 5.85m 19'02.25" in f round
3rd 2004 European Cup 5.55m 18'02.50"

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

12/21 5.50 18'00.50" Karlskrona SWE
01/26 5.70 18'08.25" 1 Springermeeting Dessau GER
02/03 5.61 18'04.75" 3 Eurojump Goteborg SWE
02/12 5.66 18'06.75" 5 GEG Stockholm SWE
02/14 5.55 18'02.50" 3 European Cup Leipzig GER
02/21 5.51 18'01.00" 2 Swedish Championships Goteborg SWE
02/25 5.73 18'09.50" 1 Jump Gala Tallinn EST

VaultnGus sez :

Patrik had some aweome jumps at last year's outdoor meet and nearly
stole the whole thing. Hasn't put up a huge mark yet this year but
heck that really don't mean squat...

----------------------------
Jeff Hartwig - United States
----------------------------

Personal best : 6.03m 19'09.25" Jonesboro, AR 06/15/00
Seasonal best : 5.88m 19'03.75" Jonesboro, AR 02/22/04

Current Residence : Jonesboro, Ark.
Club : Nike - Bell Athletics
High School : Howell HS, St. Charles, Mo. '85
College : Florissant Valley CC '87, Arkansas State '90
Born : September 25, 1967, in St. Louis, Mo.
Height : 6-3
Weight : 185
Nickname : Captain Stew-Be
Wife : Karol "Ramma Momma" Hartwig

http://www.jeffhartwig.com/

Championship Resume :

--- 1989 NCAA Indoor Championships NH NH
--- 1989 NCAA Outdoor Championships NH NH
--- 1990 NCAA Indoor Championships NH NH
13th 1992 USATF Outdoor Championships
dnq 1993 USATF Outdoor Championships NH NH
--- 1994 USATF Indoor Championships NH NH
--- 1994 USATF Outdoor Championships NH NH
9th 1995 USATF Indoor Championships
7th 1995 USATF Outdoor Championships
2nd 1996 USATF Outdoor Championships 5.80m 19'00.25"
q 1996 Olympic Games 5.70m 18'08.25" in q round
11th 1996 Olympic Games 5.60m 18'04.50" in f round
12th 1997 USATF Indoor Championships 5.40m 17'08.50"
q 1997 USATF Outdoor Championships 5.55m 18'02.50" in q round
4th 1997 USATF Outdoor Championships 5.80m 19'00.25" in f round
3rd 1998 World Cup 5.70m 18'08.25"
7th 1997 IAAF Grand Prix Final 5.60m 18'04.50"
1st 1998 USATF Outdoor Championships 5.85m 19'02.25"
1st 1998 Goodwill Games 6.01m 19'08.50"
1st 1999 USATF Indoor Championships 5.92m 19'05.00"
2nd 1999 World Indoor Championships 5.95m 19'06.25"
1st 1999 USATF Outdoor Championships 6.02m 19'09.00"
dnq 1999 World Outdoor Championships 5.55m 18'02.50" in q round
2nd 1999 IAAF Grand Prix Final 5.80m 19'00.25"
3rd 2000 USATF Indoor Championships 5.71m 18'08.75"
dnq 2000 USATF Outdoor Championships NH NH in q round
6th 2001 USATF Indoor Championships 5.55m 18'02.50"
1st 2002 USATF Outdoor Champonships 5.84m 19'02.00"
1st 2003 USATF Outdoor Champonships 5.70m 18'08.25"
dnq 2003 World Outdoor Championships 5.50m 18'00.50" in q round
2nd 2004 USATF Indoor Championships 5.70m 18'08.25"

2004 Season Results :

indoor

01/09 5.60 18'04.50" 5 Reno Pole Vault Summit Reno NV
01/17 5.70 18'08.25" 1 John Dalton Open Vermillion SD
01/29 5.61 18'04.75" 3 TEAG Indoor Meeting Erfurt GER
02/01 5.60 18'04.50" 5 Russian Winter Meet Moscow RUS
02/06 5.60 18'04.50" 2 Millrose Games New York NY
02/13 5.71 18'08.75" 1 Tyson Invitational Fayetteville AR
02/18 5.80 19'00.25" 1 Jonesboro AR
02/22 5.88 19'03.75" 1 Bell Athletics Last Jonesboro AR
02/28 5.70 18'08.25" 2 USATF Indoor Champs Roxbury MA

VaultnGus sez :

Alright Jeff - let's do it man - It's time baby! It's been 5 years
since your last trip to a major international final. Far too long I
think. Ain't nuthin' to it but to do it!

------------------------------
Toby Stevenson - United States
------------------------------

Personal Best : 5.81m 19'00.75" Seattle 01/31/04
Seasonal Best : 5.81m 19'00.75" Seattle 01/31/04

Hometown : Odessa, TX
Club : Nike
College : Stanford University '00
High School : Permian HS '96
Date of Birth : 11/19/76
Height : 6'01.25"

11th 1997 NCAA Indoor Championships 5.30m 17'04.50"
1st 1998 NCAA Outdoor Championships 5.55m 18'02.50"
4th 1999 NCAA Indoor Championships 5.45m 17'10.50"
2nd 1999 NCAA Outdoor Championships 5.45m 17'10.50"
2nd 2000 NCAA Indoor Championships 5.60m 18'04.50"
2nd 2000 NCAA Outdoor Championships 5.60m 18'04.50"
4th 2002 USATF Indoor Championships 5.52m 18'01.25"
4th 2002 USATF Outdoor Championships 5.74m 18'10.00"
6th 2003 USATF Indoor Championships 5.50m 18'00.50"
4th 2003 USATF Outdoor Championships 5.65m 18'06.50"
1st 2004 USATF Indoor Championships 5.80m 19'00.25"

2004 Season Results :

indoor

01/09 5.60 18'04.50" 4 Reno Pole Vault Summit Reno NV
01/31 5.81 19'00.75" 1 UW Indoor Invitational Seattle WA
02/06 5.70 18'08.25" 1 Millrose Games New York NY
02/14 5.62 18'05.25" 8 Pole Vault Stars Donetsk UKR
02/20 5.65 18'06.50" 2 Norwich Union GP Birmingham GBR
02/28 5.80 19'00.25" 1 USATF Indoor Champs Roxbury MA

VaultnGus sez :

BULLETHEADS RULE! Stevenson lit up the crowd with his clearances
and post-clearance celebrations in Beantown last weekend. He's on
fire and is gonna be tough to stop

Check out Toby's winning USATF jump and his first ever 19' jump over
at NeoVault

http://www.neovault.com/
http://www.neovault.com/videoclips1.asp

----------------------------
Alexsandr Korchmyd - Ukraine
----------------------------

Personal Best : 5.75m 18'10.25" Daegu, JPN 08/28/03
Seasonal Best : 5.65m 18'06.50" Sumy, UKR 02/22/04

Date of Birth : 01/22/83
Height : 1.84m
Weight : 74kg

Championship Resume :

2nd 2000 World Junior Championships U19 5.30m 17'04.50"
dnq 2001 European Junior Championships U19 5.10m 16'08.75" in q round
q 2003 European Junior Championships U22 5.30m 17'04.50" in q round
1st 2003 European Junior Championships U22 5.50m 18'00.50" in f round
1st 2003 World University Games 5.75m 18'10.25"

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

01/31 5.45 17'10.50" 6 Sparkassen Cup Stuttgart GER
02/14 5.62 18'05.25" 9 Pole Vault Stars Donetsk UKR
02/22 5.65 18'06.50" 2 Ukranian Championships Sumy UKR

VaultnGus sez :

21 year old Alexsandr PR'd in taking the World University crown
last summer. Could be a shocker...

-------------------------
Denis Yurchenko - Ukraine
-------------------------

Personal Best : 5.81m 19'00.75" Rieti, ITA 09/07/03
Seasonal Best : 5.75m 18'10.25" Sumy, UKR 02/22/04

Height : 1.73m
Weight : 70kg
Date of Birth : 01/27/78

Championship Resume :

dnq 2000 Olympic Games 5.40 17'08.50 in q round
dnq 2002 European Indoor Championships NH NH in q round
2nd 2002 European Cup 5.65 18'06.50
q 2002 European Outdoor Championships 5.60 18'04.50 in q round
6th 2002 European Outdoor Championships 5.70 18'08.25 in f round
q 2003 World Outdoor Championships 5.70 18'08.25 in q round
6th 2003 World Outdoor Championships 5.70 18'08.25 in f round

2004 Season Results :

indoor :

01/29 5.61 18'04.75" 2 TEAG Indoor Meeting Erfurt GER
01/31 0.00 NH x Sparkassen Cup Stuttgart GER
02/07 5.60 18'04.50" 5 Leipzig GER
02/12 5.71 18'08.75" 1 GEG Stockholm SWE
02/14 5.72 18'09.25" 3 Pole Vault Stars Donetsk UKR
02/22 5.75 18'10.25" 1 Ukranian Championships Sumy UKR

VaultnGus sez :

And finally we end with Denis Yurchnko. He's been inthe high 18's
all month and that coul dbe enough to medal. Took 6th at last year's
outdoor meet. He's a smooth jumper - rolls the pole well. Check out
his jump from that meet at

http://www.stabhochsprung.com/movies/20 ... ko_570.mov


====
IAAF
====

The IAAF of course will have the last word - these are their
previews of the women's and men's pole vault

---

Pole Vault

This may be the most highly anticipated event of the weekend.  In
the last two years, defending World Indoor champion Svetlana
Feofanova of Russia nudged up the world record nine times without
any visible challenger. 

Only three weeks ago, Russian rival Yelena Isinbayeva, the Paris
bronze medallist, broke the standard twice in one day at the all-
star meeting in Donetsk to shatter Feofanova’s iron hold on the
record. 

It took Feofanova and her new stiff fiberglass weapon only a week
to move the record back into her own dossier at 4.85, and a
riveting duel should ensue in Budapest.

Barring complete collapse of these two top protagonists, only one
medal is realistically up for grabs. Sydney champion and former
world-record holder Stacy Dragila of the US (4.71) should be in
the thick of that battle.  Additionally, Poland’s Monika Pyrek,
the Birmingham bronze winner, is coming off a recent national
record 4.65 and showed good form last weekend in Chemnitz. 

But in truth, all of these are just ladies-in-waiting for the two
Russian claimants to the women’s pole-vaulting throne.

---

No distinct forerunner has emerged here, although the always-
helmeted Toby Stevenson of the US (5.81) and Russia’s Igor Pavlov
(5.80) have shown the most consistency at the top end with multiple
performances at 5.75 or higher.   Both bring with them teammates
with strong resumésâ€â€

[VaultnGus]

Forgot to erase the TV schedule from the issue...

For those of you who get EuroSport or BBC or perhaps even the Canadian sports channel you're in luck - you get to see the World Indoor champs this weekend. Unfortunately those of us in the US will have to wait a week until it is covered by Fox Sports Network - 2 measly hours from what I hear. *sigh*

BBC Radio Five Live broadcast the championships last year and I think is doing it again. The announcers were awesome - it was like listening to a few track fans just shoot the breeze.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/3513555.stm

Friday 5 March (All times in GMT)

BBC Two: 2335-0005
Five Live: Updates throughout the day

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday 6 March

BBC Two: 2330-0035
Five Live: Updates throughout the day

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday 7 March

BBC Two: 0020-0120
Five Live: Updates throughout the day


http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/fivelive.shtml?listen