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Pole star Kate has high hopes as World Championships in Berlin beckon
By RICHARD COPEMAN
Last updated at 9:32 PM on 23rd July 2009


It's not just about Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell at Crystal Palace over the next two days — Britain’s best are aiming to confirm their squad places for next month’s World Championships in Berlin.
Kate Dennison leads the way in the pole vault, the 25-year-old having set a new national best of 4.57 metres earlier this month.
‘To do that in front of my home fans in Birmingham was really pleasing,’ she said before posing for our exclusive picture.
‘My main aim at Crystal Palace is to jump 4.60m for the first time.’

http://www.morethanthegames.co.uk/athle ... hts-berlin

Dennison ready to scale even higher heights in Berlin

Posted: Sunday 9th August 2009 | 9:06
From Tom Reynolds, Sportsbeat, in Monte Gordo

KATE DENNISON may have enjoyed a season to remember but she admits even higher heights must now be scaled at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin.



RISING STAR: Kate Dennison has enjoyed a season of success but admits she still has heights to climb in Berlin (Getty Images for Aviva)


Pole vault hope Dennison has been in record-breaking form all year - setting three national best indoors before improving Janine Whitlock's outdoor record not once but five times in recent weeks.

However, her 4.58 metre personal best ranks her just 15th in the world with Russia's Elena Isinbaeva, the dominant force in her discipline for the last five years, clearing 4.85m at the Golden League meeting in Rome.

"I don't have these lower aims anymore and I am not restricted because I haven't broken the British record - my aims are much higher now and I believe I can do anything," said Dennison, speaking at the Aviva-funded UKA team preparation camp in Portugal.

"The World Championships were always part of my plans for the year so I can't wait to get there.

"My aim is to get to the final and do as well as I can. I always look forward to the big events because I believe that I'm always able to put in big performances when it matters."

Dennison's form is in stark contrast to her injury-plagued 2008 campaign that saw her manage just 4.40m at the Beijing Olympics - a then personal best - before undergoing surgery to treat an Achilles injury a month after the Games.

She has already underlined her international credentials this year by finishing sixth at the European Indoor Championship in Turin.

But the Sale Harrier insists the unpredictability of the sport, coupled with her new-found confidence - both physically and mentally - means anything is possible.

"I went through a lot last year with injuries and other stuff and it is just good to be fit and performing the way I always knew I could," she added.

"It is tough when things aren't going your way and you are not competing as you want and you are out injured.

"But I think that time out made me mentally a lot stronger. Those weeks and months of being on the sidelines didn't make me physically stronger but my core stability and approach to things has been a lot better since.

"It's going to be tough. I think the women are a lot more consistent than the boys. But once you are in the final then anything can happen. If I just go out there and jump another PB then I'll be happy."

Kate Dennison blog: http://katedennison.blogspot.com/