Russian Champs - Gerasimov 5.65, Golubchikova 4.65, Feo 4.60

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http://www.iaaf.org/news/Kind=2/newsId=37532.html

Wins by Polyakova and Gerasimov the highlights in Volgograd - Russian Indoor Championships Day 1
Saturday 10 February 2007
Volgograd, Russia - No major surprises emerged from the first day (09) of the Russian Indoor Championships, with victories by Pavel Gerasimov in the Pole vault and Evgeniya Polyakova in the 60 metres providing the highlights.

More then 700 athletes from 64 regions are taking part in the 2007 edition of the championships, with nine gold medals at stake on the opening day.




Yuliya Golubchikova in Velenje (2006) after her 4.65 PB
(Bob Ramsak)

Gerasimov over Pavlov

Of those, the men's Pole Vault was expected to be most attractive for the public. Pavel Gerasimov was the winner with a 5.65 clearance, with Dmitriy Starodubtsev second with a 5.60 effort. Igor Pavlov, the 2004 World indoor champion and reigning European champion, took third at the same height. Victor Chistyakov, who returned to his motherland after years in distant Australia, tried to outplay the opponents in the tactical game: after misses at 5.60 and 5.65, he missed again when the bar was raised to 5.70. His fourth place was rather discouraging for the pole vaulter with such experience.

The same may be said about the many times World record holder Svetlana Feofanova who returned to the sector after serious injury. She took second after her 4.60 clearance, behind Yulia Golubchikova (4.65) who was not considered to be a favorite in the battle. Aleksandra Kiryashova (4.40) was third.