Monte Carlo - Ecker, Hooker 5.87, Mesnil 5.82, Walker 5.77

[tdtb]

I believe this is the final.

Rank Athlete Nation 5.30 5.40 5.50 5.60 5.70 5.77
5.82 5.87 5.92 5.97
Result
1 ECKER, Danny
GER
- - xo - o -
xxo o -
EL 5.87

2 HOOKER, Steve
AUS
- - - xo - o
- xo - xxx
5.87

3 MESNIL, Romain
FRA
- - xo - o -
xxo - xxx
SB 5.82

4 WALKER, Brad
USA
- - - o - o
- -
5.77

5 AVERBUKH, Aleksandr
ISR
- - o - xo -
xxx
=SB 5.70

5 PAVLOV, Igor
RUS
- - o - xo xxx

5.70

5 SAWANO, Daichi
JPN
- - o - xo -
xxx
5.70

8 LOBINGER, Tim
GER
- - o xo xo xxx

5.70

9 OTTO, Björn
GER
- - - o xxx

5.60

10 JENG, Alhaji
SWE
- - o xxo xxx

SB 5.60

11 BLOM, Rens
NED
- - xo xxx

5.50

11 MACK, Tim
USA
- - xo xxx

5.50

HARTWIG, Jeff
USA
- - xxx

NM

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.thewest.com.au/aapstory.aspx ... ame=403470

Fellow Australian Steve Hooker came second in the men's pole vault, losing to Germany's Danny Ecker on a countback.

Hooker, the world No.1 and 2006 world champion, and Ecker both cleared 5.87m, but the German won thanks to his first time success at the height.

"It would have been good to win, but I need to improve my first attempts," Hooker said.

"(However) it was the first time I've been close to my PB all season and tonight was the first time I was really happy."

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.iaaf.org/GP07/news/Kind=2/newsId=39943.html

Ecker on count-back from Hooker

There was a 5.87m Pole Vault battle for Danny Ecker who last weekend was crowned German champion. The 30-year-old who took the European Indoor title in Birmingham in March was only separated on the same height from Australian Steve Hooker thanks to his first time success at the winning height. Hooker needed two attempts to clear the 5.87 bar. Ecker’s height was a European season’s best. France’s Roman Mesnil was third with 5.82m, his 2007 summer best. World champion Rens Blom and Olympic titleholder Tim Mack were left stranded back in joint eleventh pace with only 5.50m to their credit.

[achtungpv]

Watching it on the webcast, Hooker made 5.87 by about 4-6 inches clean. He did appear to have a lot of trouble with his approach. Of the 4 jumps I saw, he bailed on 3 of them. Mesnil put a ton of height over 5.87 but fell on the bar. He looks like he may be getting back to 5.90 form. Didn't see any other vaulters while I was watching.

Walker quit after 5.77. Did he get hurt?