Aussie pole vaulter rakes in cash

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,207 ... 10,00.html

Aussie pole vaulter rakes in cash

September 10, 2006
PAUL Burgess collected the biggest pay cheque of his career and took a major step towards ending the year as the world No.1 by winning the men's pole vault at the IAAF World Athletics Final.

Burgess became the first Australian to win a title at the annual multi-million dollar meet since Cathy Freeman in the 400m in 1996 when he cleared 5.82m at his first attempt in Stuttgart.

Burgess picked up $US30,000 ($A39,200) for his victory on a countback from Germany's Tim Lobinger and American Toby Stevenson, who shared second.

"It hasn't even sunk in yet," Burgess told AAP.

"I've never won so much money at one time.

"It's just a three and a few zeros after it, that's what it feels like to me at the moment, I can't really comprehend what it is."

Burgess' training partner, Melbourne Commonwealth Games champion Steve Hooker, was fifth after vaulting 5.75m on his second attempt.

For Burgess, it was the perfect end to the season after a bad run with calf injuries culminated in a disappointing Commonwealth Games in March.

"I always felt in control," Burgess, 27, said of his latest performance.

"I had a really good feeling from the moment I woke up basically that I was going to do okay."

As a team reserve, he will be a spectator when Hooker represents Oceania at next weekend's World Cup in Athens.

But Burgess is determined not to waste any momentum.

Yesterday's vault was his 11th over 5.80m in competition this season – eight of them were achieved overseas – and he will only have about a week off.

"I don't want to take too much of a break because I don't want to go backwards," he said.

"It's pretty motivating to have a year like this."

Burgess currently tops the 2006 world tour rankings and is now favoured to also head the year-end official IAAF list.