PoleVaultPower.com

**********************************************************
The Pole Vault World According to Gus Volume #08 Issue #31
2003 IAAF World Indoor Championships Mens Preview 03/13/03
**********************************************************

In this issue :

Intro

IAAF World Indoor Championships Men's Entrants
IAAF World Indoor Championships Men's Profiles

And the World Can't Wait Either...

Outro

=====
Intro
=====

*gasp* alright I'm *wheeze* nearly done with all these *gulp*
preview issues...

Tomorrow afternoon in Birmingham, England the world's best vaulting
dudes will be putting on a show at the qualifying rounds of the 2003
World Indoor Championships and man I can't wait. Howver here in the
states we're gonna get a paltry show - only one brief hour of
coverage on EPSN2 (2pm EST on Sunday afternoon). As they say in Egypt,
that Sphinx! Ah well not much I can do about it now. I'll have to get
my fix from the printed media.

The IAAF has several websites devoted to the event so be sure to
check those out.

http://www.iaaf.org/
http://www.iaaf.org/WIC03/index.html
http://www.wica2003.com/home/

The starting lists were just posted less than 2 hours ago. The
qualfiying mark of 5.70m 18'08.25" could be obtained starting on
01/01/02 - that's right LAST January first so lots of these folks
actually qualified in 2002 for these championships. That's why
they're in even though their seasonal bests may not meet the
standard. 18 made the field and you'll be introduced to each and
every one of them below...

==============================================
IAAF World Indoor Championships Men's Entrants
==============================================

Well the official startlists are in for tomorrow's men's qualifying
rounds. 'Bout time - I was starting to get quite edgy...

Group A - Friday, March 14, 2003 - 11:00

1 Averbukh Aleksandr ISR 5.43 5.91
2 Chistiakov Viktor AUS 5.50 5.90
3 Buciarski Piotr DEN 5.60 5.65
4 Brits Okkert RSA 6.03
5 Kuptsov Dmitriy RUS 5.70 5.70
6 Kristiansson Patrik SWE 5.65 5.83
7 Scott Jeremy USA 5.70 5.70
8 Janson Oscar SWE 5.70 5.70
9 Burgess Paul AUS 5.75

Group B - Friday, March 14, 2003 - 17:00

1 Lobinger Tim GER 5.82 6.00
2 Janacek Stepán CZE 5.70 5.76
3 Blom Rens NED 5.73 5.75
4 Ptácek Adam CZE 5.81 5.81
5 Miles Derek USA 5.80 5.82
6 Gibilisco Giuseppe ITA 5.71 5.71
7 Mesnil Romain FRA 5.80 5.93
8 Gorshkov Vasiliy RUS 5.73 5.80
9 Stolle Michael GER 5.75 5.95

Automatic Qualifier 5.70m 18'08.25"

Athlete Country SB (2003) PB (All-Time)
------------------ ------------- ---------------- ----------------
Tim Lobinger Germany 5.82m 19'01.00" 6.00m 19'08.25"
Adam Ptacek Czech Rep. 5.81m 19'00.75" 5.81m 19'00.75"
Romain Mesnil France 5.80m 19'00.25" 5.86m 19'02.75"
Derek Miles USA 5.80m 19'00.25" 5.82m 19'01.25"
Okkert Brits South Africa 5.80m 19'00.25" 6.02m 19'09.50"
Michael Stolle Germany 5.75m 18'10.25" 5.95m 19'06.25"
Rens Blom Netherlands 5.73m 18'09.50" 5.75m 18'10.25"
Vasiliy Gorshkov Russia 5.72m 18'08.75" 5.80m 19'00.25"
Giuseppe Gibilisco Italy 5.71m 18'08.75" 5.71m 18'08.75"
Stepan Janacek Czech Rep. 5.70m 18'08.25" 5.76m 18'10.75"
Oscar Janson Sweden 5.70m 18'08.25" 5.70m 18'08.25"
Jeremy Scott USA 5.70m 18'08.25" 5.70m 18'08.25"
Dmitriy Kuptsov Russia 5.70m 18'08.25" 5.70m 18'08.25"
Viktor Chistiakov Australia 5.70m 18'08.25" 5.80m 19'00.25"
Paul Burgess Australia 5.60m 18'04.50" 5.75m 18'10.25"
Patrik Kristiansson Sweden 5.65m 18'06.50" 5.85m 19'02.25"
Piotr Buciarski Denmark 5.60m 18'04.50" 5.75m 18'10.25"
Alexsandr Averbukh Israel 5.43m 17'09.75" 5.90m 19'04.25"

Here's the ones that had qualifiers but either weren't selected for
their squads or just decided not to compete...

Alexsandr Korchmyd Ukraine 5.75m 18'10.25" 5.75m 18'10.25"
Ruslan Yeremenko Ukraine 5.63m 18'05.50" 5.80m 19'00.25"
Nick Buckfield Great Britain 5.61m 18'04.75" 5.81m 19'00.75"
Martin Erikkson Sweden 5.60m 18'04.50" 5.80m 19'00.25"
Vadim Strogalyov Russia 5.60m 18'04.50" 5.85m 19'02.25"
Yev. Mikhailychenko Russia 5.52m 18'01.25" 5.70m 18'08.25"
Pavel Gerasimov Russia 5.52m 18'01.25" 5.85m 19'02.25"
Laurens Looije Netherlands 5.50m 18'00.50" 5.70m 18'08.25"
Dennis Kholev Israel 5.50m 18'00.50" 5.71m 18'08.75"
Denis Yurchenko Ukraine 5.40m 17'08.50" 5.75m 18'10.25"
Fumiaki Kobayashi Japan 5.20m 17'00.75" 5.71m 18'08.75"
Ilian Efremov Bulgaria NM NM 5.70m 18'08.25"

Wonder why the Ukraine didn't send anyone - both Korchmyd and
Yeremenko - especially Yeremenko - are quite talented. I'm also
quite suprised Buckfield didn't join the fray in front of his home
crowd. Jeff Hartwig is also a noticable absentee having chosen not
to compete at the USATF championships.

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

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

Personal Best : 6.00m 19'08.25"
Seasonal Best : 5.82m 19'01.00"

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 Champs 5.70m 18'08.25" in q round
4th 1997 World Outdoor Champs 5.80m 19'00.25" in f round
1st 1998 European Indoor Champs 5.80m 19'00.25"
2nd 1998 European Outdoor Champs 5.81m 19'00.75"
2nd 1998 World Cup 5.80m 19'00.25"
q 1999 World Outdoor Champs 5.70m 18'08.25" in q round
6th 1999 World Outdoor Champs 5.70m 18'08.25" in f round
--- 2000 European Indoor Champs 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 Champs 5.75m 18'10.25"
1st 2002 European Cup 5.75m 18'10.25"
3rd 2002 European Outdoor Champs 5.80m 19'00.25"

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

01/25 5.70 18'08.25" 1 Stabhochsprung Meeting Dessau GER
01/29 5.50 18'00.50" 6 Cottbus GER
01/31 5.75 18'10.25" 1 TEAG Erfurt GER
02/05 5.72 18'09.25" 1 Sparkassen Dortmund GER
02/07 5.81 19'00.75" 1 Erdgas Meeting Chemnitz GER
02/09 5.72 18'09.25" 4 PotsdamGER
02/16 5.81 19'00.75" 1 Pole Vault Stars Donetsk UKR
02/18 5.82 19'01.00" 1 Globen Galan Stockholm SWE
02/22 5.80 19'00.25" 1 German National Champs Leipzig GER
02/28 0.00 NH x LBBW Meetin Karlsruhe GER

VaultnGus sez :

I love watching this guy! He is one of the most intense athletes to
ever get on a runway. His start is nothing short of pandemonium as
he goes through several different physical ticks all the while
randomly shouting out statements in German. When he clears a height
you all will know it by his titanic yells of glory.

He's had himself quite a season here in an especially weak season
(whether it's due to the shortened pegs or not is anyone's guess)
with several jumps over 19'. His championship record is also of the
highest caliber. He's still looking for that elusive World gold and
there's no better time than now as long as he's recovered from that
bout with the flu...

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

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

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"

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

01/29 5.60 18'04.50" 5 Cottbus GER
01/31 5.71 18'08.75" 2 TEAG Erfurt GER
02/07 5.81 19'00.75" 2 Erdgas Meeting Chemnitz GER
02/19 5.72 18'09.25" 1 Prague CZE
02/23 5.63 18'05.50" 5 Gaz de France Lievin FRA
03/02 5.70 18'08.25" 1 Czech/Slovak Champs Bratislava CZE

VaultnGus sez :

Adam finally scored himself a 19' jump early on in February and
has since backed it up with several high class marks. This will
be his rookie appearance on the World Champs scene and he's put
himself in a decent position to medal. I must admit I've never
seen this guy jump so I have no idea what to expect...

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

Personal Best : 5.93m 19'05.50" Goteborg, SWE 08/01/99
Seasonal Best : 5.80m 19'00.25" Mondeville, FRA 02/15/03

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

Championship Resume :

8th 1998 European Indoor Champs 5.50m 18'00.50"
1st 1999 European Under-23 Champs 5.93m 19'05.50"
6th 1999 World Indoor Champs 5.70m 18'08.25"
3rd 1999 World University Games 5.55m 18'02.50"
1st 1999 European Junior Champs 5.93m 19'05.50"
q 1999 World Outdoor Champs 5.70m 18'08.25" in q.round
nh 1999 World Outdoor Champs 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 Champs 5.85m 19'02.25"
5th 2001 World Outdoor Champs 5.85m 19'02.25"
dnq 2002 European Indoor Champs 5.55m 18'02.50" in q round
dnq 2002 European Outdoor Champs NH NH in q round

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

02/01 5.35 17'06.50" 4 Mondeville FRA
02/09 5.70 18'08.25" 1 Energizer Meeting Ghent BEL
02/15 5.80 19'00.25" 1 "A" Mondeville FRA
02/23 5.50 18'00.50" 8 Gaz de France Lievin FRA
02/28 5.30 17'04.50" q French National Champs Q Clermont-Ferrand
FRA
03/02 5.50 18'00.50" 2 French National Champs F Clermont-Ferrand
FRA

VaultnGus sez :

Romain has one of the more perfect takeoffs I've seen - you can find
several of his jumps in QuickTime format at

http://www.stabhochsprung.com

along with most of the other athletes in this issue. Had kind of an
off year last year but he's one of the select few to clear 19' this
season. Unfortunately he's surrounded it with a bunch of sub-par
performances. Still he usually comes through with decent performances
at the big meets and has an indoor bronze from 2001. Could be
dangerous (or as they say dangereaux)

Romain has yet another amazingly well-done web at :
http://www.romainmesnil.com/

This one is obviously entirely in Freench. You would think that
after having had 6 years of French classes I could understand it
but nooooooo. Well I take that back - I can get by reading french
but please don't ever ask me to speak it...

---------------------------
Derek Miles - United States
---------------------------

Personal Best : 5.82m 19'01.25" Jonesboro, AR 06/17/01
Seasonal Best : 5.80m 19'00.25"

Date of Birth : 09/28/72

Championship Resume :

q 1997 USATF Outdoor Championships 5.45m 17'10.50" in q round
10th 1997 USATF Outdoor Championships 5.35m 17'06.50" in f round
7th 1997 World University Games 5.30m 17'04.50"
--- 2000 USATF Indoor Championships NH NH
q 2000 USATF Outdoor Championships 5.55m 18'02.50"
3rd 2000 USATF Outdoor Championships 5.63m 18'05.50"
5th 2001 USATF Indoor Championships 5.65m 18'06.50"
10th 2001 USATF Outdoor Championships 5.40m 17'08.50"
3rd 2002 USATF Indoor Championships 5.62m 18'05.25"
5th 2002 USATF Outdoor Championships 5.74m 18'10.00"
1st 2003 USATF Indoor Championships 5.75m 18'10.25"

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

01/17 5.80 19'00.25" 1 Reno PV Summit Elite Men Reno NV
02/07 5.70 18'08.25" 1 2003 Millrose Games New York NY
02/16 5.71 18'08.75" 3 Pole Vault Stars Donetsk UKR
02/23 5.73 18'09.50" 1 Gaz de France Lievin FRA
03/01 5.75 18'10.25" 1 USATF Indoor Championships Roxbury MA

VaultnGus sez :

Derek rules my world man. And can you say consistent? 5 meets all
within 10cm of each other. He's really come into his own the last
few years and it looks like he's ready to make a jump into even
higher territory this year. Go D!

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

Personal Best : 6.02m 19'09.50" Koln, GER 08/18/95
Seasonal Best : 5.80m 19'00.25" Bloemfontein, RSA 02/07/03

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 Champs 5.65m 18'06.50"
1st 1998 African Champs 5.40m 17'08.50"
q 1999 World Outdoor Champs 5.65m 18'06.50" in q round
??? 1999 World Outdoor Champs 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 Champs 5.60m 18'04.50"
dnc 2001 World Outdoor Champs withdrew - injury
1st 2002 Commonwealth Games 5.75m 18'10.25"
1st 2002 World Cup 5.75m 18'10.25"

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

none

outdoor :

01/31 5.70 18'08.25" 1 ABSA Series Potchefstroom RSA
02/07 5.80 19'00.25" 1 ABSA Series Bloemfontein RSA
02/14 5.45 17'10.50" 1 ABSA Series Stellensboch RSA
02/22 5.80 19'00.25" 1 Stellensboch RSA

VaultnGus sez :

I hate to say but this guy has been one of those "so much potential"
guys for so long. Back in the mid-90's he WAS the usurper to Bubka's
throne even beating him in a few meets. He broke the 6 meter barrier
several times and even took some shots at 20 feet. Then came several
disastrous championship performances and all of a sudden this guy
was back to just being another pretender. He had it all - speed,
guts, stength. Here's what I said about him a few years back...

"Man this guy was alos supposed to be a 20 footer years ago. What
happened? I once titled an issue of the newsletter "Who the hell
is Okkert Brits?" after he stormed onto the scene as a 21 year old
to challenge Bubka in his prime. He cleared 6 meters on several
occcasion and looked primed and ready to take over the throne. So
what happened? He's had a few injuries but he always manages to
get one or two big jumps a year. His championship record has been
ATTROCIOUS - dnq at the 96 Olympics, dnq 97 World Outdoor Champs,
6th 97 World Indoor Champs, 10th 99 World Outdoor Champs - you
get the picture.

Back when he was unbeatable he would get on these monster sticks
and just get launched. Now he seems to have trouble at 18'04.50".
I would love to see a resurgance of the old go-for-broke Brits..."

Y'know what - that still holds true. Looks as if he is on the right
track this season having spent all his time back home in South
Africa and scoring himself a few 19-footers. Will we see him
challenge the 6-meter barrier again? I sure hope so. That guy was
awesome to watch. If you ever see his jump of 5.95m 19'06.25" from
the 1995 Grand Prix final he had about 6 inches of daylight and
just got flung off the pole which never even got close to vertical -
it just had so much power and just absolutely LAUNCHED him skyward.
Beautiful.

------------------------
Michael Stolle - Germany
------------------------

Personal Best : 5.95m 19'06.25" Monaco 08/18/00
Seasonal Best : 5.75m 18'10.25"

Hometown :
Current Residence :
Height : 1.92m
Weight : 78
Date of Birth : 12/17/74

Championship Resume :

9th 1996 Olympic Games 5.70m 18'08.25"
8th 1997 World Indoor Champs 5.55m 18'02.50"
dnq 1997 World Outdoor Champs 5.60m 18'04.50"
2nd 1998 European Indoor Champs 5.80m 19'00.25"
1st 1999 European Cup 5.65m 18'06.50"
7th 1999 World Outdoor Champs 5.70m 18'08.25"
q 2000 Olympic Games 5.70m 18'08.25" in q.round
4th 2000 Olympic Games 5.90m 19'04.25"
9th 2001 World Indoor Champs 5.45m 17'10.50"
1st 2001 World Cup 5.75m 18'10.25"
q 2001 World Outdoor Champs 5.70m 18'08.25"
4th 2001 World Outdoor Champs 5.85m 19'02.25"

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

01/25 5.50 18'00.50" 4 Stabhochsprung Meeting Dessau GER
01/29 5.60 18'04.50" 2 Cottbus GER
01/31 5.51 18'01.00" 7 TEAG Erfurt GER
02/05 5.62 18'05.25" 2 Sparkassen Dortmund GER
02/07 5.50 18'00.50" 6 Erdgas Meeting Chemnitz GER
02/09 5.52 18'01.50" 8 Potsdam GER
02/14 5.50 18'00.50" 4 Bayer Meeting Leverkusen GER
02/22 5.75 18'10.25" 2 German National Champs Leipzig GER
02/28 0.00 NH x LBBW Meeting Karlsruhe GER
03/08 5.43 17'09.75" 5 IHS Sindelfingen GER

VaultnGus sez :

Another guy I love to watch 'cuz he goes absolutely bonkers when he
clears a big height. This season he's been stuck in the low 18's
save for his 5.75m 18'10.25" at the German Nationals, but he always
seems to jump well at the championships so 19' is a definite
possibility

Most everything I waana say about the guy has also been said in
previous issues so lets step into the wayback machine...

VaultnGus said (back in 09/00) :

"Another one of my favorites to watch. When he's on he requires
extremely nimble body control to clear the big heights leaving
very little room for error. Saw him clear 19'06.25" a few weeks
back on a telecast and it looked nice. Another strong medal
favorite.

Also remember that back a tthe 1996 Olympics Stolle was the guy
that on his 3rd attempt at 19'00.25" brok the standard. Lawrence
Johnson was on deck for his third shot at the height and had to
wait over 40 minutes for the standards to be replaced...

At the same meet Stolle had one of the all-time great reactions
to clearing a Personal Best : height. Now remember that he was
wearing a belly-uniform (kinda like a belly shirt but a uniform)
plus two bandanas - one around his neck and one around his wrist.
When he cleared 18'08.25" on his third to stay in he screamed all
the way down and then stomped all around the mat while pumping
his fists. I loved it!"

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

Personal Best : 5.75m 18'10.25" Ingolstadt, GER 06/18/00
Seasonal Best : 5.73m 18'09.50"

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

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

01/25 5.30 17'04.50" 8 Stabhochsprung Meeting Dessau GER
01/29 5.60 18'04.50" 2 Cottbus GER
02/07 5.60 18'04.50" 4 Erdgas Meeting Chemnitz GER
02/09 5.72 18'09.25" 2 Potsdam GER
02/14 5.60 18'04.50" 1 Bayer Meeting Leverkusen GER
02/15 5.45 17'10.50" 1 Dutch Championships Ghent BEL
02/19 5.60 18'04.50" 2 Prague CZE
02/23 5.63 18'05.50" 3 Gaz de France Lievin FRA
02/28 5.73 18'09.50" 2 LBBW Meetin Karlsruhe GER
03/08 5.63 18'05.50" 3 IHS Sindelfingen GER

VaultnGus sez :

Rens having a nice solid season with several 5.60 18'04.50"+
jumps. Cahmpionship record is quite sketchywith a few dnq's and
an nh in his recent past. Should make the final...

-------------------------
Vasiliy Gorshkov - Russia
-------------------------

Personal Best : 5.80m 19'00.25" Cheboksary, RUS 07/11/02
Seasonal Best : 5.73m 18'09.50" Sindelfingen, GRE 03/08/03

Date of Birth : 02/05/77

Championship Resume :

3rd 1999 European Junior Champs-U22 5.60m 18'04.50"
3rd 2001 European Cup 5.68m 18'07.50"
dnq 2001 World Outdoor Champs 5.50m 18'00.00" in q round
4th 2002 European Cup 5.55m 18'02.50"
8th 2002 European Outdoor Champs 5.70m 18'08.25"

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

01/07 5.70 18'08.25" 1 Moscow RUS
01/31 5.61 18'04.75" 3 TEAG Erfurt GER
02/05 5.32 17'05.50" 7 Sparkassen Dortmund GER
02/09 5.40 17'08.50" 6 Energizer Meeting Ghent BEL
02/15 5.72 18'09.25" 2 "A" Mondeville FRA
02/23 5.63 18'05.50" 3 Gaz de France Lievin FRA
02/25 5.30 17'04.50" q Russian Champs Moscow RUS
02/27 5.70 18'08.25" 1 Russian Champs Moscow RUS
03/08 5.73 18'09.50" 1 IHS Sindelfingen GER

VaultnGus sez :

From his vids he looks quite sloppy at the top of the vault and
that costs him several inches. He's put up some OK marks this
season so maybe he's corrected some of those flaws. Should make
the final

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

Personal Best : 5.71m 18'08.75" Donetsk, UKR 02/16/03
Seasonal Best : 5.71m 18'08.75" Donetsk, UKR 02/16/03

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"

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

01/31 5.51 18'01.00" 8 TEAG Erfurt GER
02/09 5.50 18'00.50" 3 Energizer Meeting Ghent BEL
02/16 5.71 18'08.75" 2 Pole Vault Stars Donetsk UKR
03/02 5.30 17'04.50" 2 Italian National Champs Genoa ITA

VaultnGus sez :

Giuseppe PR'd at the Bubka Pole Vault Stars meet but hasn't had any
other real marks of note this season. He did qualify for the 2000
Olympic final with his previous best jump. However I'd have to say
he's on the fence for the final...

-------------------------------
Stepan Janacek - Czech Republic
-------------------------------

Personal Best : 5.76m 18'10.75" Prague, CZE 06/17/02
Seasonal Best : 5.70m 18'08.25" Bratislava, CZE 03/02/03

Height : 1.88m
Weight : 81kg
Date of Birth : 06/12/77

Championship Resume :

7th 1998 European Cup 5.30m 17'04.40"
3rd 1999 European Cup 5.45m 17'10.50"
8th 1999 European Junior Champs-U22 5.50m 18'00.50"
dnq 1999 World Outdoor Champs 5.40m 17'08.50" in q round
2nd 1999 World University Champs 5.60m 18'04.50"
dnq 1999 World Outdoor Champs 5.40m 17'08.50" in q round
dnq 2000 Olympic Games 5.65m 18'06.50" in q round
8th 2001 World Indoor Champs 5.60m 18'04.50"
dnq 2001 World Outdoor Champs 5.50m 18'00.50" in q round
2nd 2001 World University Games 5.70m 18'08.25"
dnq 2002 European Indoor Champs 5.40m 17'08.50" in q round
5th 2002 European Outdoor Champs 5.75m 18'10.25"

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

01/29 5.50 18'00.50" 6 Cottbus GER
01/31 5.31 17'05.00" 9 TEAG Erfurt GER
02/05 5.32 17'05.50" 7 Sparkassen Dortmund GER
02/07 5.30 17'04.50" 9 Erdgas Meeting Chemnitz GER
02/09 5.52 18'01.25" 7 Potsdam GER
02/16 5.40 17'08.50" 10 Pole Vault Stars Donetsk UKR
02/23 5.50 18'00.50" 9 Gaz de France Lievin FRA
03/02 5.70 18'08.25" 2 Czech/Slovak Champs Bratislava CZE

VaultnGus sez :

Another one of the up-and-coming Czech vaulters. When was the last
time they sent 2 guys to a World or Olympic Champs? The women have
been stellar for years but now the dudes are starting to catch up.
From the stabhochsprung vids Stepan looks like he loves to take off
about a foot inside. Looks painful. Got his best mark two weeks ago
but doesn't really have anything else that I woul dcall spectacular
this season. Was it a one-off?

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

Personal Best : 5.70m 18'08.25" Malmo, SWE 02/22/03
Seasonal Best : 5.70m 18'08.25" Malmo, SWE 02/22/03

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

Championship Resume :

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

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

01/18 5.40 17'08.50" 2 Konsum Malmo SWE
01/25 5.60 18'04.50" 3 Stabhochsprung Meeting Dessau GER
02/01 5.50 18'00.50" 1 Goteborg SWE
02/09 5.62 18'05.25" 6 Potsdam GER
02/15 5.30 17'04.50" 3 Goteborg SWE
02/18 5.20 17'00.75" 5 Globen Galan Stockholm SWE
02/23 5.70 18'08.25" 1 Danish Indoor Champs Malmo SWE
03/02 5.63 18'05.50" 1 Swedish National Champs Satra SWE
03/08 5.33 17'05.75" 7 IHS Sindelfingen GER

VaultnGus sez :

Haven't seen this guy jump but he's put together a decent season.
No real threat to medal though...

----------------------------
Jeremy Scott - United States
----------------------------

Personal Best : 5.70m 18'08.25" Roxbury, MA 03/01/03
Seasonal Best : 5.70m 18'08.25" Roxbury, MA 03/01/03

Hometown :
Current Residence :
Height : 2.06m 6'09"!
Weight : 91kg
Date of Birth : 05/??/81

Championship Resume :

2nd 2000 NCAA DIII Outdoor Championships 4.95m 16'02.75"
--- 2000 USATF Junior Championships NH NH
9th 2001 NCAA DIII Indoor Championships 4.70m 15'05.00"
2nd 2001 NCAA DIII Outdoor Championships 5.05m 16'06.75"
1st 2002 NCAA DIII Indoor Championships 5.50m 18'00.50"
9th 2002 USATF Outdoor Championships 5.44m 17'10.25"
2nd 2003 USATF Indoor Championships 5.70m 18'08.25"

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

12/07 5.01 16'05.25" 1 Golden Flash Gala Kent OH
01/17 5.40 17'08.50" 8 Reno PV Summit Elite Men Reno NV
02/01 5.20 17'00.75" 1 National Open State College PA
02/08 5.60 18'04.50" 1 Doug Raymond Invitational Kent OH
02/15 5.37 17'07.25" 1 Bucknell Winter Classic Lewisburg PA
02/22 5.68 18'07.50" 1 DePauw Indoor Classic Greencastle IN
03/01 5.70 18'08.25" 2 USATF Indoor Championships Roxbury MA
03/08 5.56 18'03.00" 1 NCAC Championships Granville OH

VaultnGus sez :

What more can I say about this kid. Is he the future of US vaulting?
Well I saw him clear 18'08.25" with room to spare and it really
wasn't all that great of a technical jump. He's still learning this
event and it looks as if he has a bright future. He's got a better
seasonal resmume competing against Division III collegians than a
lot of these guys do on the World circuit...

------------------------
Dmitriy Kuptsov - Russia
------------------------

Personal Best : 5.70m 18'08.25" Moscow, RUS 02/27/03
Seasonal Best : 5.70m 18'08.25" Moscow, RUS 02/27/03

Date of Birth : 11/09/82

Championship Resume :

1st 2001 European Junior Champs-U19 5.55m 18'02.50"

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

01/07 5.20 17'00.75" 3 Yekaterinburg RUS
02/25 5.30 17'04.50" q Russian National Champs Moscow RUS
02/27 5.70 18'08.25" 2 Russian National Champs Moscow RUS

VaultnGus sez :

A YOUNG dude - 20 years and a few months old. A babe in the woods.
However he's already been over 5.70m 18'08.25" - how many of you
can say you did that before you turned 21. I sure can't...

-----------------------------
Viktor Chistiakov - Australia
-----------------------------

Personal Best : 5.95m 19'06.25" Chari 09/08/99
Seasonal Best : 5.70m 18'08.25" Perth, AUS 02/08/03

Hometown :
Current Residence :
Height : 2.03m NOT THE TALLEST!
Weight : 90kg
Date of Birth : 02/09/75

Championship Resume :

1st 1995 World Games 5.85m 19'02.25"
2nd 1996 European Indoor Championships 5.80m 19'00.25"
3rd 1996 Russian Outdoor Championships 5.80m 19'00.25"
dnq 1996 Olympic Games 5.60m 18'04.50" in q round
7th 1998 Goodwill Games 5.40m 17'08.50"
q 2000 Olympic Games 5.70m 18'08.25" in q round
6th 2000 Olympic Games 5.80m 19'00.25" in f round
q 2001 World Outdoor Champs 5.70m 18'08.25" in q round
10th 2001 World Outdoor Champs 5.75m 18'10.25" in f round
6th 2001 Goodwill Games 5.60m 18'04.50"
4th 2002 Commonwealth Games 5.50m 18'00.50"

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

02/18 5.40 17'08.50" 4 Globen Galan Stockholm SWE
02/23 5.50 18'00.50" 6 Gaz de France Lievin FRA
03/02 5.60 18'04.50" 1 British National Champs Birmingham GBR

outdoor :

02/08 5.70 18'08.25" 1 Telstra Meeting Perth AUS
02/15 5.35 17'06.50" 2 Telstra A-Series Campbelltown AUS

VaultnGus sez :

He's had 20 foot potential for so long that I'm getting sick of
talking about it every preview issue. Just do it already will ya?
And for once he's NOT the tallest guy inthe field. As a matter of
fact I think he's a good 3 inches shorter than Jeremy Scott. YEAH!

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

Personal Best : 5.85m 19'02.25" Helsinki, FIN 08/23/02
Seasonal Best : 5.65m 18'06.50" Malmo, SWE 01/25/03

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

Championship Resume :

2nd 1996 World Junior Champs 5.30m 17'04.50"
dnq 1998 European Outdoor Champs 5.40m 17'08.50" in q round
dnq 1999 World Outdoor Champs 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 Champs 5.60m 18'04.50" in q round
2nd 2002 European Indoor Champs 5.75m 18'10.25" in f round
4th 2002 European Outdoor Champs 5.80m 19'00.25" in f round

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

12/21 5.50 18'00.50" 1 Karlskrona SWE
01/25 5.65 18'06.50" 1 Pallas Malmo SWE
02/09 5.50 18'00.50" 4 Energizer Meeting Ghent BEL
02/13 5.55 18'02.50" 1 Stars Games Tampere FIN
02/18 5.56 18'03.00" 2 Globen Galan Stockholm SWE
02/23 0.00 NH x Gaz de France Lievin FRA
03/02 5.53 18'01.75" 2 Swedish National Champs Satra SWE

VaultnGus sez :

Suprised me a bit last year when he cleared a couple of 19' bars as
he had been stuck in the low to mid 18's for quite a few years.
Hasn't hit those heights yet this year but he hasn't exactly stunk
up the joint either. Could be a sleeper here...

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

Personal Best : 5.75m 18'10.25" Fort-de-France, FRA 04/27/02
Seasonal Best : 5.60m 18'04.50" Reno, NV 02/22/03

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

Championship Resume :

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

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

02/01 5.30 17'04.50" 1 Bodybuilding.com Invitational Boise ID
02/07 0.00 NH x 2003 Millrose Games New York NY
02/15 5.45 17'10.50" 1 Bill Cosby Invitational Reno NV
02/22 5.60 18'04.50" 1 Holiday Inn Classic Reno NV
03/08 5.35 17'06.50" 2 Washington Last Chance Seattle WA

VaultnGus sez :

Nice enough guy (and former Oregon Duck) and all but seems to be
stuck in 18-foot land with no hope of escaping to higher ground...

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

Personal Best : 5.75m 18'10.25"
Seasonal Best : 5.60m 18'04.50" Melbourne, AUS 03/01/03

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"

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

03/09 5.51 18'01.00" 1 v5Nat Wien AUT

outdoor :

01/05 5.10 16'08.75" 1 Perth AUS
01/12 5.40 17'08.50" 2 Perth AUS
01/19 0.00 NH x Perth AUS
01/26 5.40 17'08.50" 1 Perth AUS
02/08 5.55 18'02.50" 2 Telstra A-Series Perth AUS
02/15 5.35 17'06.50" 2 Telstra A-Series Campbelltown AUS
02/22 5.30 17'04.50" 1 Telstra A-Series Canberra AUS
03/01 5.60 18'04.50" 2 Telstra A-Series Melbourne AUS

VaultnGus sez :

Even in Australia's summer season Paul wasn't able to get the really
big mark taht would put him amongst the world's feared. Still just
23 though and has many years left in him...

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

Personal Best : 5.91m 19'04.75" Gateshead, GBR 08/19/01
Seasonal Best : 5.43m 17'09.75"

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

Championship Resume :

q 1999 World Outdoor Champs 5.65m 18'06.50" in q round
3rd 1999 World Outdoor Champs 5.80m 19'00.25" in f round
1st 2000 European Indoor Champs 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 Champs 5.70m 18'08.25"
q 2001 World Outdoor Champs 5.70m 18'08.25" in q round
2nd 2001 World Outdoor Champs 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 Champs 5.85m 19'02.25"
--- 2002 World Cup nh nh

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

02/28 5.40 17'08.50" 4 LBBW Meeting Karlsruhe GER
03/08 5.43 17'09.75" 6 IHS Sindelfingen GER

VaultnGus sez :

Alexsandr hasn't done much this indoor season but that don't mean
squat. This guy has been one of the toughest competitors on the
world circuit the past few years and should be a force to reckon
with. Save for an nh in last year's World Cup final you can't
really ask for a much better championship performance history.

==================================
And the World Can't Wait Either...
==================================

=-----------------------------------------------=
World Indoor Championships PREVIEWS: Field events
=-----------------------------------------------=

http://www.iaaf.org/
Tuesday 11 March 2003

Monte-Carlo – The 9th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics
take place this weekend in Birmingham, UK at the National Indoor
Arena (14-16 March).

We continue our short series of competition Preview stories with the
Field events - the Multi-events Preview was published earlier, and
the Track events will be published later today. Preview writers – Ed
Gordon (Track), Garry Hill (Field) and Steven Downes (Multi)

Men's Pole Vault:

Probably because of the new rule which mandated shorter pegs for
the crossbar this year, men's vaulting is at a low ebb in terms
of heights cleared. For the first time since 1985, no one has yet
cleared 5.90 (or 5.85, for that matter).

Indeed, only four men have managed to climb over 5.80, led by Tim
Lobinger (5.82), whose consistency stamps him as the favourite
going in. The German has four meets over 5.80, more than the total
for Adam Ptácek (Polish Record 5.81), Romain Mesnil of France and
Derek Miles of the U.S. (both 5.80). Mesnil was the bronze medalist
two years ago. Commonwealth Games winner Okkert Brits (South Africa)
and European gold medallist Aleksandr Avrbukh (Israel) have had
little exposure this winter.

Expect the Birmingham entrants to vault conservatively, entering at
lower heights than they would have in previous years.

=-----------------------------------------=
Lobinger clears illness, now for Birmingham
=-----------------------------------------=

http://www.iaaf.org/
Thursday 13 March 2003

Germany's Tim Lobinger, the reigning European Indoor Pole Vault
champion has suffered from a bad bout of influenza in the last few
weeks, but that didn't stop the 30-year-old becoming German Indoor
champion, three weeks before the World Indoor Championships in
Birmingham.

At those championships in Leipzig (22-23 February), Lobinger
suffered, shivering with fever and a cold which prevented him from
jumping more than 5.80m.

"If this had been a meeting and not the German Championships, I
never would have jumped today", Lobinger confirmed, and then with
a grin he told a 'secret', "I promised my son Lex Tyger that I would
give my best, even though I was ill, because it was his birthday."

This is the real Tim Lobinger. He always has something to tell
besides the competition itself.

This winter nobody has jumped better in the world. He has changed
clubs a lot in the last few years and now he belongs to the ASV
Köln again.

Originally he wanted to start in the Sindelfingen meeting the
weekend before last, but he didn't feel well, so he cancelled his
plans. He prefers to win a medal in Birmingham. "After my influenza
I wasn't fit enough to show what I am really able of doing," said
the bronze medal winner from last summer's European outdoor
Championships in Munich.

Lobinger always is interesting for the media, as he was the first
German athlete ever to clear the dream six metres. Also, Lobinger
loves the show, has the colourful image of a 'bird of paradise' and
an eccentric personality to go with it, and one which lives in
extremes.

He starts about 50 competitions each year and loves that. "I need
the competitions, the atmosphere and the experience, as it increases
the chance to have a prefect jump."

However, he has had his problems like the rest of us. He has had a
very hard time, since splitting up with his wife Petra, a former
triple jumper. "The situation is hard, especially as we have our
two children Kendra Fee and Lex Tyger." But he has totally changed
his life in the last few month. Even though he feels there are
inner conflicts in his life, he is happy. He retains a lot of joy
of life and energy, which has a positive effect of his competitions.

Even if his private life is not easy, his sport, which means his job,
seems to work how it should, and he remains a popular athlete outside
the stadium too. He was the first athlete, to give a big interview
with the German people magazine "Bunte", which usually writes about
actors and popstars. And the highlight in the report: they called him
'Adonis'. A big compliment for a newspaper, which is not interested
in athletics. But Tim Lobinger, the successful athlete, the self-
willed showman, did it!

At the beginning of February, he confirmed that he had fallen in
love again, with Alina, a 22-year-old woman, who works for a local
television in Munich. They met each other at the European
Championships, when Alina wanted to get an interview with him, which
was not easy at that moment, because Tim Lobinger wasn't in the best
mood after 'only' getting a bronze....

At the beginning of January he was in a training camp for two weeks
in South Africa. "This was a great time. South Africa is my
favourite country in the world anyway. I had good results and I
lost weight, now I have 85 Kilos, and that is five less than last
year." And he had very good results, until he suffered his influenza.

Lobinger is one of the favourites for Birmingham. Last year, together
with the USA jumper Jeff Hartwig he was for the first time the number
one in the world. This gave him still more self confidence. He loves
Pole Vault, his sport is his life - not only because he is a
professional jumper and he earns his money by winning, but because
his sport is his passion.

But even though he has been jumping for 15 years he has never won a
medal at the World indoors. Having cleared six metres in both 1997
and 1999, he has a lot of unfulfilled potential. "I have a lot to
catch up on," he says. It is a situation Lobinger wants to change
in Birmingham. And finally it seems to be the right moment. If not
now, then when...?

=====
Outro
=====

4 down, 1 to go. The women's preview will be coming up later tonight.
Unfortunately they haven't posted an official startlist yet so I'm
gonna be guessign. I wad able to figure out some of the entrants by
going to the various federation websites. The ones I was able to
decipher - USA, Australia, Germany, Belgium, Czech Republic, Spain,
Netherlands and Poland I'm sure about. Some of the sites were just
downright unnavigable whetehr due to bad site design or me just not
being able to make heads or tales out of the Russian or Japanese or
whatever language got thrown at me. Lets just say words are not my
strong spot. I speak only two languages well - nonsense and
gibberish...

Also (possibly) coming up - the PVWAtG Predicition Special. if y'all
show mee yours I'll show you mine. That is if you send in your
predicitions ASAP then perhaps I can be persuaded to tell ya what
will REALLY happen in all the meets this weekend. C'mon Devereaux
and Hinkin and Ashcraft and Sparks and all you other folks. Be bold!

Stay tuned!

VaultnGus
"Will vault for food"

vaultngus@vaultworld.com
http://www.vaultworld.com/vaultngus/

Corrections, additions, suggestions - send it all
to VaultnGus at vaultngus@vaultworld.com

Caveat Emptor : the PVWAtG Newsletter depends heavily
on your submissions and often I use e-mails without
permission. If you send me something that is NOT
intended for publication please note it by prefacing
the subject header with "NOT FOR PRINT" as I have no
common sense whatsoever.

To unsubscribe from this newsletter via e-mail, send an
empty e-mail to Unsubscribe:

vaultngus-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Be sure your e-mail program is adjusted to send mail from
the address you want unsubscribed. If you are not sure what
address you are subscribed as, you will find the address
used to reach you in the "Return-Path" header of the
message you received.

**********************************************************
The Pole Vault World According to Gus Volume #08 Issue #32
2003 IAAF World Indoor Championships Women's Preview
03/13/03
**********************************************************

In this issue :

Intro

IAAF World Indoor Championships Men's Entrants
IAAF World Indoor Championships Men's Profiles

And the World Can't Wait Either...

Outro

=====
Intro
=====

This is it - the last of the preview issues. Way too much typing
for this poor old fingers. S'alright. I can hack it...

The women's qualifying rounds are on Saturday afternoon with the
final on Sunday. ESPN2 will have a brief 1 hour of coverage on
Sunday afternoon (2pm EST). This is one of the marquee events so
hopefully we'll get quite a few vaults wedged into the broadcast

The IAAF has several websites devoted to the event so be sure to
check those out.

http://www.iaaf.org/
http://www.iaaf.org/WIC03/index.html
http://www.wica2003.com/home/

Stephanie Grabner's site will also have awesome coverage

http://www.stabhochsprung.de/events/iaa ... ir-i-r.htm

================================================
IAAF World Indoor Championships Women's Entrants
================================================

Automatic Qualifier 4.40m 14'05.25"

Athlete Country SB (2003) PB (All-Time)
------------------ ------------- ---------------- ----------------
Stacy Dragila USA 4.78m 15'08.25" 4.81m 15'09.25"*
Svetlana Feofanova Russia 4.77m 15'07.75" 4.77m 15'07.75"*
Annika Becker Germany 4.67m 15'03.75" 4.75m 15'07.00"*
Yelena Isinbayeva Russia 4.65m 15'03.00" 4.65m 15'03.00"*
Monika Pyrek Poland 4.52m 14'10.00" 4.62m 15'02.00"*
Thorey Elisdottir Iceland 4.50m 14'09.00" 4.51m 14'09.50"
Anna Rogowska Poland 4.47m 14'08.00" 4.47m 14'08.00"*
Kellie Suttle USA 4.45m 14'07.25" 4.60m 15'01.00"*
Monique de Wilt Netherlands 4.45m 14'07.25" 4.45m 14'07.25"*
Vanessa Boslak France 4.45m 14'07.25" 4.45m 14'07.25"
Agnes Livebardon France 4.40m 14'05.25" 4.40m 14'05.25"
Krisztina Molnar Hungary 4.40m 14'05.25" 4.53m 14'10.25"
Marie Poissonnier France 4.40m 14'05.25" 4.46m 14'07.50"
Natalya Kushsch Ukraine 4.40m 14'05.25" 4.40m 14'05.25"
Kirsten Belin Sweden 4.37m 14'04.00" 4.51m 14'09.25"
Naroa Agirre Spain 4.30m 14'01.25" 4.40m 14'05.25"
Gao Shuying China 4.25m 13'11.25" 4.52m 14'10.00"
Tracy Bloomfield Great Britain 4.10m 13'05.25" 4.10m 13'05.25"

This is the event everybody and their mother will be waiting for.
Make sure ya wake the kids, call the neighbors and get your VCR's
all primed 'cuz it's time for a showdown! That's right we will have
the first meeting of Stacy Dragila and Svetlana Feofanova this year.
Each has set two world records this season and both know they can
go much higher. How high? We'll have to find out...

One sad thing about this wonderful match-up is it seems all the other
competitors are being ignored. Well we don't do that at the PVWAtG.
Everybody here gets their 2 paragraphs of fame.

Besides Dragila and Feofanova this field is diamond studded. We have
Annika Becker from Germany who shocked everyone last summer when she
briefly took the European record away from Feofanova and has since
backed it up with several promising marks. We have Svetlana's Russian
teammate Yelena Isinbayeva who has gone over 15' twice this year and
BEAT Svetlana head to head a week and a half ago. We have two other
15-footers - Poland's Monika Pyrek and our own Kellie Suttle. We have
the National Record holders from Iceland, France, Netherlands, Sweden,
Ukraine and China (that is if they are actually entered). In other
words it's a heck of a field and there are several folks here who are
more than willing to give Stacy and Svetlana a run for their money.
Remember what happened back in 2001 when Pavla Hamackova shocked
everyone by stealing the gold...

I'm only guessing at the startlists since they haven't posted the
official ones yet. The only ones I'm sure of are the asterixed ones.
Obviously one of the Frenchies will not be going. Tracy Bloomfield I
put on just in case they allow one host entry like they do outdoors.
Other than that I think the list is complete

Unfortunately there are some elite ladies missing. Tough qualifying
knocked out Tatyana Polnova (PR 4.70m 15'05.00") and quite a few
other Russian hopefuls. The Americans, Germans and French have
suffered similar fates. injuries have eliminated 2001 champ Pavla
Hamackova and Yvonne Buschbaum. None of the Aussies made the trip.
Still it's gonna be a site to behold...

You can download QuickTime movies and frame-by-frame posters of most of
these women at this most amazing site...

http://www.stabhochsprung.com/

================================================
IAAF World Indoor Championships Women's Profiles
================================================

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

Personal Best : 4.81m 15'09.25" Palo Alto, CA 06/09/01
Seasonal Best : 4.78m 15'08.25" Roxbury, MA 03/02/03

Height : 1.72m
Weight : 63kg
Date of Birth : 03/25/71

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" Current WR

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

12/14 4.57 15'00.00" 1 Pocatello ID
01/17 4.46 14'07.50" 1 Reno PV Summit Elite Reno NV
01/25 4.60 15'01.00" 1 Western Indoor Classic Boise ID
02/01 4.71 15'05.50" 1 Boston Indoor Games Roxbury MA NR
02/07 4.72 15'05.75" 1 2003 Millrose Games New York NY NR
02/15 4.55 14'11.00" 1 Tyson Invitational Elite Fayetteville AR
02/21 4.67 15'03.75" 1 Idaho State-Montana State Pocatello ID
03/02 4.78 15'08.25" 1 USATF Indoor Champs Roxbury MA WR
03/07 4.72 15'05.75" 1 Intermountain Champs Pocatello ID

VaultnGus sez :

All I can say is WOW! Just when you thought that perhaps Stacy was
starting to fall off track after a sub-par 2002 BANG! She opened
up with 15'00.00" and never looked back. Two American Records and
a World record. 9 meets - 9 victories. LOWEST mark is 4.46 14'07.50"
and 7 of 9 meets were over 15'. I've seen her live three times this
winter (twice in Boston WOO HOO!) and she's never looked better. At
both Boston meets she cleared her heights with ease. As a matter of
fact at the USATF meet during her warmups she cleared 15'04.00"
which would've won the meet by 9 inches. She has attempted 16 feet
multiple times during the year and is getting closer every time out.
Once she gets the timing down on her biggest sticks - ho nelly!
Surely she's the odds on favorite. That is unless...

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

Personal Best : 4.78m 15'08.25" Stockholm, SWE 07/16/02
Seasonal Best : 4.77m 15'07.75" Birmingham, GBR 02/21/03

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"

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

02/02 4.76 15'07.25" 1 Norwich Union Glasgow GBR WR
02/05 4.67 15'03.75" 1 Sparkassen Dortmund GER
02/15 4.65 15'03.00" 1 European Indoor Cup Leipzig GER
02/21 4.77 15'07.75" 1 Norwich Union Grand Prix Birmingham GBR WR
03/06 4.60 15'01.00" 2 Athina 2003 Peania GRE

VaultnGus sez :

...that is unless Svetlana is entered. Their 2001 Outdoor clash will
go down in history as one of the classic competitions ever. Last year
was kind of a wash as Stacy vaulted injured all summer and Svetlana
bagelled her head-to-head 9-0. Birmingham will be the first time these
two meet at the top of their game since 2001.

Svetlana's season nearly parallels Stacy's. 5 meets all over 4.60m
15'01.00" including two world records. Amazingly though Svetlana has
one blemish on her record - she lost to teammate Yelena Isinbayeva 7
days ago but otherwise she has been nearly perfect. It is gonna be
great to see these two athletes push each other to the limit...

-----------------------
Annika Becker - Germany
-----------------------

Personal Best : 4.77m 15'08.00" Bochum, GER 07/07/02
Seasonal Best : 4.67m 15'03.75" Chemnitz, GER 02/07/03

Height : 1.70m
Weight : 67kg
Date of Birth : 11/12/81

Championship Resume :

1st 1997 European Junior Champs 4.00m 13'01.50"
2nd 1999 European Junior Champs 4.20m 13'09.25"
2nd 2000 World Junior Champs-U22 4.10m 13'05.25"
2 2001 European Junior Champs-U22 4.40m 14'05.25" in f round
dnq 2001 World Outdoor Champs 4.25m 13'11.25" in q round
4th 2002 European Indoor Champs 4.55m 14'11.00" in f round
5th 2002 European Outdoor Champs 4.50m 14'09.00" in f round
1st 2002 World Cup 4.55m 14'11.00"

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

01/26 4.60 15'01.00" 1 Sparkassen Bad Segeberg GER
01/31 4.53 14'10.25" 1 TEAG Erfurt GER
02/02 4.30 14'01.25" 3 Sparkassen Stuttgart GER
02/05 4.61 15'01.50" 2 Sparkassen Dortmund GER
02/07 4.67 15'03.75" 1 Erdgas Meeting Chemnitz GER
02/15 4.50 14'09.00" 2 European Indoor Cup Leipzig GER
02/23 4.60 15'01.00" 1 German National Champs Leipzig GER
02/28 4.62 15'02.00" 1 Bad Oeynhausen GER
03/08 4.40 14'05.25" 3 LHS Sindelfingen GER

VaultnGus sez :

How much you wanna bet Annika is sick of hearing the names of Stacy
and Svetlana? After amazing everyone with her 4.77m 15'08.00"
performance last summer that seemingly came out of nowhere (you can
check out a QuickTime movie of that jump at the link below) Annika
has proven that she's a force to be dealt with. 5 times over 15'
this year and no signs of stopping. Unfortunately due to the depth
of the German vaulting corps Annika has had little opportunity to go
after the gold. Her only World meet ended in disappointment with an
NH in the 2001 outdoor qualifying round. That should definitely
change here. She could be the fly in the ointment and just spoil the
party for everyone. Coooooool....

http://www.stabhochsprung.com/movies/20 ... er_477.mov

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

Personal Best : 4.65m 15'03.00" Peania, GRE 03/06/03
Seasonal Best : 4.65m 15'03.00" Peania, GRE 03/06/03

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

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

02/27 4.60 15'01.00" 1 Russian National Championships Moscow RUS
03/06 4.65 15'03.00" 1 Athina 2003 Peania GRE

VaultnGus sez :

Yelena has only competed twice this year but MAN - 15'+ both times
out AND she handed Svetlana Feofanova her only loss of the season.
She also beat Tatyana Polnova at the Russian Champs to knock her
off the Worlds squad. Another BIG TIME potential spoiler...

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

Personal Best : 4.62m 15'02.00" London, GBR 08/23/02
Seasonal Best : 4.52m 14'10.00" Wuppertal, GER 01/31/03

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

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

01/31 4.52 14'10.00" 1 Wuppertal GER
02/02 4.50 14'09.00" 1 Sparkassen Stuttgart GER
02/05 4.41 14'05.50" 3 Sparkassen Dortmund GER
02/15 4.30 14'01.25" 3 European Indoor Cup Leipzig GER
02/21 4.40 14'05.25" 3 Norwich Union GP Birmingham GBR
03/02 4.50 14'09.00" 1 Polish National Champs Spala POL

VaultnGus sez :

Pyrek is always dangerous. Finally snuck a big bronze a the 2001
World Outdoor meet. Has put up some decent heights this year but
hasn't yet made the rarified air of 15'. Still too skinny...

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

Personal Best : 4.51m 14'09.50" Fayetteville, AR 03/10/02
Seasonal Best : 4.50m 14'09.00" Peania, GRE 03/06/03

Height : 1.80m
Weight : 67kg
Date of Birth : 06/30/77

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

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

01/19 4.40 14'05.25" 1 Reykjavik ICE
02/23 4.30 14'01.25" 1 Danish Indoor Champs Malmo SWE
03/02 4.12 13'06.25" 2 Swedish National Champs Satra SWE
03/06 4.50 14'09.00" 3 Athina 2003 Peania GRE

VaultnGus sez :

Thorey had one storied year at the University of Georgia. There she
set her PR at the NCAA Indoor Champs in 02 at 4.51m 14'09.50".
Since then she's gone back to Europe and nearly broke that PR last
weekend. Not a bad time to start hitting a hot streak...

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

Personal Best : 4.47m 14'08.00" Prague, CZE 02/19/03
Seasonal Best : 4.47m 14'08.00" Prague, CZE 02/19/03

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

Championship Resume :

dnq 2002 European Indoor Champs 4.20m 13'09.25" in q round
q 2002 European Outdoor Champs 4.40m 14'05.25" in q round
7th 2002 European Outdoor Champs 4.30m 14'01.25" in f round

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

02/02 4.30 14'01.25" 3 Sparkassen Stuttgart GER
02/08 4.40 14'05.25" 2 Potsdam GER
02/15 4.20 13'09.25" 1 Spala POL
02/18 4.36 14'03.50" 3 Globen Galan Stockholm SWE
02/19 4.47 14'08.00" 1 Prague CZE
02/21 4.25 13'11.25" 5 Norwich Union GP Birmingham GBR
03/02 4.40 14'05.25" 2 Polish National Champs Spala POL

VaultnGus sez :

Monika Pyrek's countrywoman has come on strong this year with
several PR performances and looks to crack the 15' barrier real
soon.

-----------------------------
Kellie Suttle - United States
-----------------------------

Personal Best : 4.60m 15'01.00" Modesto, CA 05/12/01
Seasonal Best : 4.45m 14'07.25" New York, NY 02/07/03

Height : 1.70m
Weight : 58kg
Date of Birth : 03/09/73

Championship Resume :

3rd 1996 USATF Indoor Championships 3.85m 12'07.50"
6th 1996 USATF Outdoor Championships 3.60m 11'09.75"
4th 1997 USATF Outdoor Championships 3.90m 12'09.50"
7th 1998 USATF Indoor Championships 3.65m 11'11.75"
1st 1998 USATF Outdoor Championships 4.27m 14'00.00"
6th 1998 Goodwill Games 4.10m 13'05.25"
3rd 1999 USATF Indoor Championships 4.25m 13'11.25"
2nd 1999 USATF Outdoor Championships 4.30m 14'01.25"
9th 1999 World Outdoor Championships 4.35m 14'03.25"
2nd 1999 Pan Am Games 4.25m 13'11.25"
4th 2000 USATF Indoor Championships 4.32m 14'02.00"
q 2000 USATF Outdoor Championships 4.02m 13'02.25"
2nd 2000 USATF Outdoor Championships 4.43m 14'06.25"
q 2000 Olympic Games 4.30m 14'01.25"
11th 2000 Olympic Games 4.00m 13'01.50"
2nd 2001 USATF Indoor Championships 4.56m 14'11.50"
3rd 2001 World Indoor Championships 4.51m 14'09.50"
5th 2001 Goodwill Games 4.20m 13'09.25"
5th 2002 USATF Outdoor Championships 4.20m 13'09.25"
2nd 2003 USATF Indoor Championships 4.45m 14'07.25"

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

01/17 4.21 13'09.75" 4 Reno PV Summit Elite Women Reno NV
02/01 4.21 13'09.75" 5 Boston Indoor Games Roxbury MA
02/07 4.45 14'07.25" 2 2003 Millrose Games New York NY
02/12 4.29 14'01.00" 1 Essx Sport Invite Jonesboro AR
02/15 4.45 14'07.25" 2 Tyson Invitational Elite Fayetteville AR
03/02 4.35 14'03.25" 2 USATF Indoor Championships Roxbury MA

VaultnGus sez :

Kellie seems to be well on the road back after last year's knee
surgery. She grabbed bronze back in '01 but needs to back up to
15' ASAP to get another medal for her mantle...

-----------------------------
Monique de Wilt - Netherlands
-----------------------------

Personal Best : 4.45m 14'07.25" Ghent, BEL 02/15/03
Seasonal Best : 4.45m 14'07.25" Ghent, BEL 02/15/03

Height : 1.72m
Weight : 60kg
Date of Birth : 03/21/76

Championship Resume :

3rd 1997 European Junior Champs-U22 3.80m 12'05.50"
11th 1997 World University Games 3.90m 12'09.50"
1st 1998 Dutch Outdoor Champs 4.05m 13'03.50"
4th 1998 European Outdoor Champs 4.15m 13'07.25" in f round
17th 1999 World Indoor Champs 4.05m 13'03.50"
2nd 1999 World University Games 4.20m 13'09.25"
dnq 2000 European Indoor Champs 4.00m 13'01.50" in q round
dnq 2001 World Outdoor Champs 4.25m 13'11.25" in q round
dnq 2002 European Indoor Champs 4.00m 13'01.50" in q round
6th 2002 European Outdoor Champs 4.40m 14'05.25" in f round
5th 2002 World Cup 4.20m 13'09.25"

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

01/26 4.20 13'09.25" 4 Sparkassen Bad Segeberg GER
01/31 4.17 13'08.25" 5 Wuppertal GER
02/02 4.30 14'01.25" 6 Sparkassen Stuttgart GER
02/07 4.20 13'09.25" 6 Erdgas Meeting Chemnitz GER
02/14 4.30 14'01.25" 3 Bayer meeting Leverkusen GER
02/15 4.45 14'07.25" 1 Dutch Championships Ghent BEL
02/21 4.10 13'05.25" 7 Norwich Union Grand Prix Birmingham GBR
03/08 4.20 13'09.25" 7 IHS Sindelfingen GER

VaultnGus sez :

Every year Monique gets better and better. If she fixes that fly-
away 15' will be no problem.

Check out Monique's AWESOME website at

http://home.arcor.de/monique/

Hopefully she'll be providing us with some nice updates in her
journal - she's got all her entries archived and it really makes
for fascinating reading if you want to know the day-to-day goings
on of an elite vaulter...

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

Personal Best : 4.46m 14'07.50" Saint-Etienne, FRA 07/13/02
Seasonal Best : 4.45m 14'07.25" Clermont-Ferrand, FRA 03/02/03

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 Champs 4.30m 14'01.25" in q round
11th 2002 European Outdoor Champs 4.20m 13'09.25" in f round

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

01/11 4.20 13'09.25" 1 Paris FRA
01/19 4.40 14'05.25" 1 Lievin FRA
02/01 4.41 14'05.50" 2 Boston Indoor Games Roxbury MA
02/07 4.42 14'06.00" 1 D'Oise Meeting Eaubonne FRA
02/15 4.00 13'01.50" 5 European Indoor Cup Leipzig GER
03/01 3.90 12'09.50" q French National Champs Q Clermont-Ferrand
FRA
03/02 4.45 14'07.25" 1 French National Champs F Clermont-Ferrand
FRA

VaultnGus sez :

Vanessa and teammate Agnes Livebardon have been trading the French
record back and forth this year. The first where both got 4.40
14'05.25" was disallowed because of the friggin' short peg rule.
They still had the long pegs so the IAAF nixed the mark. Since then
Vanessa has broken the record another 3 times with the shorter pegs
so don't you go crying for her Argentina. She's still a youngun' -
only 20 - and this is her first trip to the big dance. One to keep
your eyes on in the future...



-------------------------
Agnes Livebardon - France
-------------------------

Personal Best : 4.40m 14'05.25" Clermont-Ferrand, FRA 01/19/03
Seasonal Best : 4.40m 14'05.25" Clermont-Ferrand, FRA 01/19/03

Height : 1.67m
Weight : 61kg
Date of Birth : 05/31/80

Championship Resume :

q 2001 European Junior Champs-U22 4.05m 13'03.50" in q round
11th 2001 European Junior Champs-U22 3.90m 12'09.50" in f round
dnq 2002 European Indoor Champs 4.00m 13'01.50" in q round
dnq 2002 European Outdoor Champs 4.00m 13'01.50" in q round

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

01/05 4.30 14'01.25" 2 Aubiere FRA
01/19 4.40 14'05.25" 1 Clermont-Ferrand
FRA
01/25 4.00 13'01.50" 3 French University Champs Bordeaux FRA
02/15 4.13 13'06.50" 3 Mondeveille FRA
03/01 3.90 12'09.50" q French National Champs Q Clermont-Ferrand
FRA
03/02 4.30 14'01.25" 3 French National Champs F Clermont-Ferrand
FRA

VaultnGus sez :

I'm not sure if Agnes made this field or not since she finished 3rd
at her national championships two weeks ago. She's another one of
the young frenchwomen who have made giant strides over the past year.

--------------------------
Krisztina Molnar - Hungary
--------------------------

Personal Best : 4.53m 14'10.25" Rieti, ITA 09/08/02
Seasonal Best : 4.40m 14'05.25" Budapest, HUN 02/15/03

Height : 1.68m
Weight : 51kg
Date of Birth : 04/08/76

Championship Resume :

dnq 2000 European Indoor Champs 4.00m 13'01.50" in q round
dnq 2001 World Outdoor Champs 4.25m 13'11.25" in q round
dnq 2002 European Indoor Champs 4.30m 14'01.25" in q round
q 2002 European Outdoor Champs 4.40m 14'05.25" in q round
7th 2002 European Outdoor Champs 4.30m 14'01.25" in f round

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

01/21 4.33 14'02.50" 1 Budapest HUN
01/26 4.30 14'01.25" 2 Sparkassen Bad Segeberg GER
01/31 4.33 14'02.50" 3 TEAG Erfurt GER
02/07 4.30 14'01.25" 1 Enternet Kupa Budapest HUN
02/15 4.40 14'05.25" 1 Budapest HUN
02/28 4.22 13'10.00" 6 Bad Oeyenhausen GER
03/02 4.40 14'05.25" 1 Hungarian Champ Budapest HUN
03/08 4.40 14'05.25" 5 IHS Sindelfingen GER

VaultnGus sez :

This is another one I'm not sure about but I can't believe that the
Hungarian federation wouldn't send her. She's got a PR that puts her
in contention for a medal and has several quality marks this season.

--------------------------
Marie Poissonnier - France
--------------------------

Personal Best : 4.46m 14'07.50" Saint-Etienne, FRA 07/13/02
Seasonal Best : 4.40m 14'05.25" Clermont-Ferrand, FRA 03/02/03

Height : 1.66m
Weight : 53kg
Date of Birth : 05/04/79

Championship Resume :

4th 1997 European Cup 4.05m 13'03.50"
12th 1999 World Indoor Champs 4.20m 13'09.25"
2nd 1999 European Cup 4.30m 14'01.25"
7th 1999 European Junior Champs-U22 3.85m 12'07.50"
dnq 2000 Olympic Games 4.15m 13'07.25" in q round
dnq 2002 European Outdoor Champs 4.15m 13'07.25" in q round

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

01/05 4.30 14'01.25" 1 Aubiere FRA
01/19 4.20 13'09.25" 2 Clermont-Ferrand
FRA
02/15 4.33 14'02.50" 1 Mondeveille FRA
03/01 3.90 12'09.50" q French National Champs Q Clermont-Ferrand
FRA
03/02 4.40 14'05.25" 2 French National Champs F Clermont-Ferrand
FRA

VaultnGus sez :

Marie might have snukc a place onto the French team. She got 2nd at
her national champs and got a qualfiying mark at the same time. The
oldest of the three - yeah right, old - she's only 23. Her
championship record has been spotty at best. She'll need to do
something special to make any sort of a challenge...

-------------------------
Natalya Kushsch - Ukraine
-------------------------

Personal Best : 4.40m 14'05.25" Donetsk, UKR 02/15/03
Seasonal Best : 4.40m 14'05.25" Donetsk, UKR 02/15/03

Height : 1.70m
Weight : 56kg
Date of Birth : 03/05/83

Championship Resume :

--- 2000 World Junior Champs-U19 nh nh
2nd 2001 European Junior Champs-U19 4.15m 13'07.25"
6th 2002 European Cup 4.10m 13'05.25"
6th 2002 World Junior Champs-U19 4.00m 13'01.50"

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

02/15 4.40 14'05.25" 1 Bubka Meeting Donetsk UKR
02/23 4.30 14'01.25" 1 Ukraine Champs Sumy UKR

VaultnGus sez :

She's got the quaalifier but will the Ukranian federation send her?
They didn't send either of the two guys that qualified so I'm
beginning to think not. Too bad - this 20 year old looks like she
could do some damage...

----------------------
Kirsten Belin - Sweden
----------------------

Personal Best : 4.51m 14'09.25" Goteborg, SWE 08/27/02
Seasonal Best : 4.37m 14'04.00" Satra, SWE 03/02/03

Height : 1.75m
Weight : 58kg
Date of Birth : 03/02/81

Championship Resume :

dnq 2001 European Junior Champs-U22 3.95m 12'11.50" in q round
q 2002 European Indoor Champs 4.35m 14'03.25" in q round
7th 2002 European Indoor Champs 4.30m 14'01.25" in f round
q 2002 European Outdoor Champs 4.40m 14'05.25" in q round
9th 2002 European Outdoor Champs 4.30m 14'01.25" in f round

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

01/26 4.20 13'09.25" 6 Sparkassen Bad Segeberg GER
01/31 4.17 13'08.25" 5 Wuppertal GER
02/02 4.35 14'03.25" 2 Norwich Union Glasgow GBR
02/07 4.20 13'09.25" 4 Erdgas Meeting Chemnitz GER
02/08 4.00 13'01.50" 6 Potsdam GER
02/18 4.26 13'11.75" 4 Globen Galan Stockholm SWE
02/21 4.25 13'11.25" 6 Norwich Union Grand Prix Birmingham GBR
03/02 4.37 14'04.00" 1 Swedish National Champs Satra SWE

VaultnGus sez :

The Swedes will probably send Kirsten for a nice weekend in England.
Whether or not she can regain the form that got her over 4.50 last
summer is anybody's guess...

--------------------
Naroa Agirre - Spain
--------------------

Personal Best : 4.40m 14'05.25" Valencia, ESP 07/27/02
Seasonal Best : 4.30m 14'01.25" Zaragoza, ESP 02/01/03

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

Championship Resume :

10th 2002 European Outdoor Champs 4.30m 14'01.25" in f round

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

12/20 4.15 13'07.25" 1 San Sebastien ESP
01/11 4.10 13'05.25" 1 San Sebastien ESP
01/25 4.00 13'01.50" 1 San Sebastien ESP
02/01 4.30 14'01.25" 1 Vodafone Zaragoza ESP
02/15 0.00 NH x European Indoor Cup Leipzig GER
02/22 4.11 13'05.75" 1 Vodafone Seville ESP
03/02 4.20 13'09.25" 1 Spanish National Champs Valencia ESP

VaultnGus sez :

Naroa picked up a qualifier last summer but has only cracked the
14' barrier once this winter.

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

Personal Best : 4.52m 14'10.00" Beijing, CHN 08/29/01
Seasonal Best : 4.25m 13'11.25" Peania, GRE 03/06/03

Height : 1.79m
Weight : 66kg
Date of Birth : 10/28/79

Championship Resume :

8th 1998 World Junior Champs-U19 3.90m 12'09.50" in f round
dnq 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
1st 2001 East Asian Games 4.20m 13'09.25"
q 2001 World Outdoor Champs 4.35m 14'03.25" in q round
5th 2001 World Outdoor Champs 4.50m 14'09.00" in f round
1st 2001 World University Games 4.52m 14'10.00"
4th 2002 World Cup 4.30m 14'01.25"

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

02/17 4.20 13'09.25" 1 NGP Tianjin CHN
02/22 NH NH NGP Beijing CHN
03/06 4.25 13'11.25" 6 Athina 2003 Peania GRE
03/09 4.21 13'09.75" 1 v5Nat Wien AUT

VaultnGus sez :

The Chinese dominated back in the early days of the women's vault.
Now Gao is pretty much all that is left. Still only 23 she still
has a chance of putting a scare into the folks up top. She PR'd at
the 2001 World Outdoor Champs to take 5th, then PR'd again to win
the World Unviersity Games later that summer. This season tho' has
been a bit rough. She only managed 6th at the Athina 2003 meet
against all the European big guns.

--------------------------------
Tracy Bloomfield - Great Britain
--------------------------------

Personal Best : 4.10m 13'05.25" Birmingham, GBR 03/02/03
Seasonal Best : 4.10m 13'05.25" Birmingham, GBR 03/02/03

Date of Birth : 09/13/79

Championship Resume :

10th 2002 Commonwealth Games 3.90m 12'09.50"

2003 Season Results :

indoor :

01/18 4.05 13'03.50" 1 Bedford GBR
01/25 3.90 12'09.50" 2 Cardiff GBR
02/02 3.95 12'11.50" 4 Norwich Union Glasgow GBR
02/15 3.80 12'05.50" 6 European Indoor Cup Leipzig GER
02/21 4.10 13'05.25" 8 Norwich Union Grand Prix Birmingham GBR
03/02 4.00 13'01.50" 1 British National Champs Birmingham GBR

VaultnGus sez :

Just in case they allow one host entry per event Tracey is the top
vaulter in great Britain now that Janine Whitlock has been suspended.
If she does make the field then hopefully she'll have a good time
vaulting with all those cool ladies.

==================================
And the World Can't Wait Either...
==================================

=-----------------------------------------------=
World Indoor Championships PREVIEWS: Field events
=-----------------------------------------------=

http://www.iaaf.org/
Tuesday 11 March 2003

Monte-Carlo – The 9th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics
take place this weekend in Birmingham, UK at the National Indoor
Arena (14-16 March).

We continue our short series of competition Preview stories with the
Field events - the Multi-events Preview was published earlier, and
the Track events will be published later today. Preview writers – Ed
Gordon (Track), Garry Hill (Field) and Steven Downes (Multi)

Women's Pole Vault:

If there's an event rife with promise for World Record action at
the Championships, it's the women's Pole Vault, where Stacy Dragila
(US) and Svetlana Feofanova (Russia) will continue their sky-high
duelling.

Between them, Dragila and Feofanova have raised the indoor WR no
fewer than 15 times over the course of the last four seasons,
Dragila's 4.78 now standing as the best ever.

The two staged an epic battle at the 2001 World Outdoor Championships,
the American winning gold to cap an 8-2 overall yearly record against
her Russian rival. But everything went Feofanova's way last year as
she smashed Dragila 9-0 in head-to-head meetings.

Feofanova continued hot this winter, raising her own World record
twice before Dragila reclaimed it at the U.S. Championships.
Birmingham will represent their first meeting of the season. Dragila,
whose next goal is the English-measure barrier of 16-feet (4.88),
says "I'm really looking forward to meeting her. I want to show her
I've got plenty to give. It's like, 'I've seen what you've got and
here's what I have'. "

Both will have to be at their best to stave off challenges from the
likes of the only one to beat Feofanova this year, teammate Yelena
Isinbayeva, and German recordholder Annika Becker.

Men's Pole Vault:

Probably because of the new rule which mandated shorter pegs for
the crossbar this year, men's vaulting is at a low ebb in terms
of heights cleared. For the first time since 1985, no one has yet
cleared 5.90 (or 5.85, for that matter).

Indeed, only four men have managed to climb over 5.80, led by Tim
Lobinger (5.82), whose consistency stamps him as the favourite
going in. The German has four meets over 5.80, more than the total
for Adam Ptácek (Polish Record 5.81), Romain Mesnil of France and
Derek Miles of the U.S. (both 5.80). Mesnil was the bronze medalist
two years ago. Commonwealth Games winner Okkert Brits (South Africa)
and European gold medallist Aleksandr Avrbukh (Israel) have had
little exposure this winter.

Expect the Birmingham entrants to vault conservatively, entering at
lower heights than they would have in previous years.

=------------------------------------------------=
Dragila and Feofanova – let the competition begin!
=------------------------------------------------=

http://www.iaaf.org/
Tuesday 11 March 2003

Monte-Carlo – The women's Pole Vault, which pits USA's Stacy
Dragila against Russia's Svetlana Feofanova, is one of the most
eagerly awaited events of this weekend's 9th IAAF World Indoor
Championships in Athletics, which takes place in Birmingham's
National Indoor Arena (14-16 March).

The women's world record has already been improved three times this
season.

Feofanova, the European indoor and outdoor champion, who set five
World Indoor records in 2002 has raised her mark twice more in
2003 – 4.76m (Glasgow 2 Feb) and 4.77m (Birmingham 21 Feb).

The Russian has again looked imperious throughout this season, but
in contrast to last year when Dragila was hampered by injuries, in
2003 the American has constantly been snapping at Feofanova's heels.

Though the two haven't met in competition this winter, Dragila, who
is the reigning World and Olympic champion, first set two national
records – 4.71m (Boston 1 Feb) and 4.72m (New York 7 Feb) – and
more recently improved Feofanova's world mark with a leap of 4.78m
at the USA Championships in Boston on 2 March.

With the World Indoor championships fast approaching nerves have
been jangling in recent days, with Feofanova succumbing to a
surprise defeat at the hands of compatriot Yelena Isinbayeva (4.60
to 4.65m) in Athens on 6 March.

Isinbayeva is also in the Russian team for Birmingham but another
of the contenders, the reigning World Indoor champion from Lisbon
2001, Pavla Hamackova (CZE) withdrew yesterday with injury.

Has Feofanova peaked too soon or is she just biding her time?

Can Dragila claim her second World Indoor gold? – she won the inaugural
title in 1997.

Or will both vaulting protagonists be upstaged in Birmingham, as
happened in Lisbon 2001, when Feofanova shared silver (with Kellie
Suttle) and Dragila finished fourth?

The possible questions are endless, so let the competition begin!

Qualification – Sat 15 March AM
Final – Sunday 15 March PM.

=-------------------------------------=
Stacy Dragila: 'This one is for myself'
=-------------------------------------=

http://www.iaaf.org/
Thursday 13 March 2003

USA's World indoor and outdoor Pole Vault record holder, Stacy
Dragila chose the IAAF for an exclusive pre-World Indoors
interview.

(Kirby Lee) You have broken the World Record just a couple of weeks
ago. What is your physical and mental state entering these
championships?

-

I think the major thing is that I feel very confident now. I had had
a few good shots at the World record at the Millrose Games and in
Boston but it didn't happen. The training was exceptional and I knew
I had the height somewhere in me. I am just glad it happened at the
nationals in front of such a big crowd.

When Svetlana (Feofanova) had such a great year last year I felt
just 'Wow', she was awesome. But at the same time it gave me extra
motivation. And for me to have improved on her record now it just
proves that I am still up there, I can still do it.

I have been doing great things in training and have even raised the
bar to 16 feet (4.88). I haven't yet cleared it but I am very close!
I think that being in a competition situation will be just the little
extra I need to go over it.

-

Do you think the competition will be a two-woman battle like it was
in Edmonton, or do you see other girls other then Svetlana who might
be able threaten your World Championships quest?

-

To tell you the truth, I was very excited when I read about
Isinbayeva attempting the World record height last week. I was glad
that it isn't just me and Svetlana out there. I like it more when
there are many of us going high. It makes the event even more
exciting for the crowd. Everyone has been looking out for Svetlana
and myself but really there is much more to the women's Pole Vault
than just us.

I think Sunday it's going to take a higher mark than 4.70 to win it.
And hopefully, if all goes to plan, there will be a World record in
Birmingham. Speaking for myself I am fit to take all the jumps that
it's going to take. I am happy that I have been having clean
competitions, making very little, if any mistakes at lower heights
and being able to save my energy for when it matters.

-

Have you planned a specific tactic for these championships? Or are
you just going to control the contest as the bar is raised? What
will be your starting height?

-

No, I don't plan this sort of things. Maybe after the preliminaries
and when we know which are going to be the heights I will think
about it. I think I am going to open with a 4.30. I have been opening
around 4.30 lately and it has worked well. I am very confident though
and if I need to open a bit higher that will not be a problem at all.

-

There is no denying that Svetlana Feofanova is going to be your
tougher competitor this weekend. Is there a vaulting quality that
she has and you lack?

-

For having carefully watched Svetlana's jump I think she is much
more accurate than me on taking her steps for her take off. I tend
to get a little bit too excited and get too much under it resulting
in a non ideal take off. Svetlana does an excellent job in that
phase of the jump.

As for me I think my best quality is my ability at getting inverted.
I think that is what I do better than anybody else in the world
including the men. I have been working on being more precise with
my approach without losing my qualities because most of the times
when you try and improve on something you lose on something else.

I am not a perfect technician and I don't think any athlete can
claim being perfect. That would be the end of it. Striving for
perfection, that is why we are always so motivated. But when you
do get the big jump it is an amazing feeling. Everything around
you just slows down. There is an immense silence and you don't
hear anything up there. I have had one of those at the World Indoors
in 1997 and at the World outdoors in 1999 and it is just an
incredible feeling. It takes a lot of patience and repetition to get
there but once you experience that particular moment then you
understand why you have put so much effort in it.

I love the sport and I think I still have a lot to give to the sport.

-

How important is the World Indoor title for you? Do you think you
need it to prove that Stacy Dragila is back to what Stacy Dragila
used to be in 2001?

-

This one would be more for myself. I have always strived at being
the best and by the way it's been quite a long time that I haven't
had a world indoor title, since 1997!

It is true that I have had a lot of critics last year, I knew I
wasn't performing at the level I had been in previous years because
of my injury but still people didn't accept it. I think it was
ignorant on them and I was very frustrated by that attitude.

Now my confidence is built up. I know I have an excellent training
base and I am ready for it.

-

What is the last thing you do before taking a jump?

-

I just take a deep breath, I look at the bar, I tell myself that
the bar is very low, that I can clear it, that I have done it a
lot of times before. I basically talk to myself and motivate myself.

Another thing I like to do is encourage the crowd to support us.
The Pole Vault is such an intimate competition, we are out there
for so long and we want to give back to the crowd as much as they
give to us.

And I hope there will be a lot of them cheering up for us on Sunday!

=-------------------------=
Achilles blow for Hamackova
=-------------------------=

http://www.european-athletics.org/

The Czech Republic's medal hopes in the women's pole vault at the
World Indoors have been dashed with defending champion Pavla
Hamackova pulling out due to an Achilles injury.

"I wanted to go to Birmingham and try to achieve the best possible
result," she said on Tuesday.

"I even tried to train with spikes on Monday morning but I felt the
pain. I realised I would not be able to compete with all the best
girls. So I decided not to go. It is better for my health."

Her absence means the Czechs will travel to England on Wednesday
with just nine athletes.

=---------------------------=
Germany suffer Buschbaum blow
=---------------------------=

12 Mar 2003 21:34

Pole vaulter Yvonne Buschbaum has been forced to withdraw from
Germany's team ahead of this weekend's World Indoor Championships.

She is suffering from 'flu and will not travel to Birmingham,
meaning the German team has been reduced to a squad of 10.

Buschbaum finished third at last year's European Championship in
Munich. Germany will not call up a replacement.

=====
Outro
=====

That's it. Finis. Done. Complete....

wellllll...

Devereaux sent in his predicitions and they're as usual quite
interesting so perhaps I'll put out a few predicitions...

Tomorrow afternoon will begin the bonanza of results and reports -
first up will be the World men's qualification round, followed by
the NCAA DIII men's final, the NCAA DII men's final and of course
the NCAA DI men's final. After all that information gets
disseminated I'll probably be heading down the NYC to catch the
Girls vault on Saturday morning, then booking it back to Millbury
to reports on all of Saturday's action including the World men's
final, World women's qualification, the NCAA DI/DII/DIII women's
finals and all the scholastic championship action. *Whew*

Is that enough? If not then I can probably make up some stuff...

Stay tuned!

VaultnGus
"Will vault for food"

vaultngus@vaultworld.com
http://www.vaultworld.com/vaultngus/

Corrections, additions, suggestions - send it all
to VaultnGus at vaultngus@vaultworld.com

Caveat Emptor : the PVWAtG Newsletter depends heavily
on your submissions and often I use e-mails without
permission. If you send me something that is NOT
intended for publication please note it by prefacing
the subject header with "NOT FOR PRINT" as I have no
common sense whatsoever.

To unsubscribe from this newsletter via e-mail, send an
empty e-mail to Unsubscribe:

vaultngus-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Be sure your e-mail program is adjusted to send mail from
the address you want unsubscribed. If you are not sure what
address you are subscribed as, you will find the address
used to reach you in the "Return-Path" header of the
message you received.

===================================
Men's Qualification Group A Results
===================================

Official Results - POLE VAULT - Men - Qualification
Qual. rule: qualification standard 5.65m or at least best 8 qualified

Group A - Friday, March 14, 2003 - 11:00

1 Chistiakov Viktor AUS 5.60 18'04.50"
2 Kristiansson Patrik SWE 5.60 18'04.50"
3 Averbukh Aleksandr ISR 5.40 17'08.50"
Brits Okkert RSA NM
Kuptsov Dmitriy RUS NM
Janson Oscar SWE NM
Burgess Paul AUS NM

Athlete 540 555 560 565
Chistiakov Viktor O - O XXX
Kristiansson Patrik - - XO XXX
Averbukh Aleksandr XO - XXX
Brits Okkert - XXX
Kuptsov Dmitriy XXX
Janson Oscar XXX
Burgess Paul XXX

Wait a sec. Seomething's screwy here. Where's Jeremy Scott?!?!?! He
was supposed to be in group A. So was Piotr Buciarski. Only SEVEN
from Group A and only THREE cleared heights?

If these are the true results then already we've lost one of the top
seeds Okkert Brits, the phenom Jeremy Scott and the junior record
holder Dmitriy Kuptsov.

Group B goes later this morning. Looks like it will be a lot easier
to qualify. I still wonder what the heck happened to Jeremy. Hope
everything's alright...

===========================
Official Women's Startlists
===========================

They finally announced the women's startlist this morning as well

Startlist - POLE VAULT Women - Qualification

Qual. rule: qualification standard 4.35m or at least best 8 qualified

Group A - Saturday, March 15, 2003 - 8:30

1 Belin Kirsten SWE 4.37 4.37
2 Molnár Krisztina HUN 4.40 4.45
3 Kushch Natalya UKR 4.40 4.40
4 de Wilt Monique NED 4.45 4.45
5 Boslak Vanessa FRA 4.45 4.45
6 Koleva Tanya BUL 4.40 4.43
7 Poissonnier Marie FRA 4.40 4.40
8 Gao Shuying CHN 4.52
9 Agirre Naroa ESP 4.30 4.30

Group B - Saturday, March 15, 2003 - 11:35

1 Feofanova Svetlana RUS 4.77 4.78
2 Becker Annika GER 4.67 4.77
3 Suttle Kellie USA 4.45 4.60
4 Pyrek Monika POL 4.52 4.61
5 Dragila Stacy USA 4.78 4.81
6 Elisdóttir Thórey Edda ISL 4.50 4.51
7 Rogowska Anna POL 4.47 4.47
8 Isinbayeva Yelena RUS 4.65 4.65

Wow - I pretty much nailed the startlists. Looks like the french did
select Poissonnier over Agnes Livebardon. The Ukraine did NOT send
Natalya Kushsch and the Brits did not submit Bloomfield as an entrant.
I DID miss entirely Bulgarian record holder Tonya Koleva. My bad...

===========
Predictions
===========

Now that one of the men's qualification rounds has ended maybe it's
about time I send out Shawn Devereaux & my predicitions for the
dudes. The women will come later...

=-------------------------------------------------------=
The 2003 World Championships According to Shawn Devereaux
=-------------------------------------------------------=

First off, I can't believe the Ukraine didn't send any vaulters.
Should've at least sent Korchmyd, yeah he's barely old enough to
shave, but a 18'10.50" PR this season deserves to go.

01 Tim Lobinger GER 5.90 19-04.25

This lunatic is way overdue for a major championships gold medal.
Plus his kid is named Lex Tyger...LEX TYGER. Jeez, imagine all
the future a** whuppin's he's gonna have to endure.

02 Jeremy Scott USA 5.85 19-02.25

El Grande. Well, it's better than El Pendejo.

=03 Okkert Brits RSA 5.80 19-00.25

Come on man...this is getting sad.

=03 Derek Miles USA 5.80 19-00.25

Spent over 4 years in South Dakota. After 4 years of that, what
are the odds of becoming a world class vaulter as opposed to a
goat molesting alcoholic dirt farmer? You deserve a medal just
for beating the odds.

05 Michael Stolle GER 5.70 18-08.25

According to his website, his 5th favorite album is Bloodhound
Gang's Hooray for Boobies. Unfortunately, bad taste isn't illegal
in Germany either.

06 Romain Mesnil FRA 5.70 18-08.25

Another coulda woulda shoulda. Time's running out to get that 6
meter jump.

07 Patrik Kristiansson SWE 5.60 18-04.50

Is anybody else creeped out that he is engaged to that Swedish high
school heptathlete?

08 Aleksandr Averbukh ISR 5.60 18-04.50

Beware the mullet! Well, then again Bubka jumped 20' with a proud
flowing Camaro drivin' mullet.

09 Rens Blom NED 5.60 18-04.50

The Dutch are certainly good at getting, uh, jumping high

=-------------------------------------------------=
The 2003 World Championships According to VaultnGus
=-------------------------------------------------=

The Dudes :

1 Tim Lobinger 5.85m 19'02.25"

Gotta agree with Shawn on this one. He's been on all winter and it
looks as if 5.85 will be enough to take the gold...

2 Derek Miles 5.85m 19'02.25"

The last two years on this weekend I've sat and talked with Derek
while he coached his vaulters at the DII Nationals. I think he's
got soemthing better to do this weekend...

3 Alexsandr Averbukh 5.80m 19'00.25"

Alwyas jumps well at big meets, mullet or not.

4 Okkert Brits 5.80m 19'00.25"

Man I wanna see him return to '95 form.

5 Jeremy Scott 5.70m 18'08.25"

Nothing seems to phase this guy. He could quite possibly just go
ahead and win the whole darn thing himself...

6 Romain Mesnil 5.70m 18'08.25"

Je ne sais pas quoi me dire ainsi me pense babillerai juste en francais

7 Michael Stolle 5.70m 18'08.25"

He'll be back big time outdoors...

8 Viktor Chistiakov 5.60m 18'04.50"

Losing his "Tallest Vaulter" title will affect him in ways we
cannot possibly imagine

9 Adam Ptacek 5.60m 18'00.50"

Czech-mate!