WC Men Preview and Q round: Hooker, Hollis, Luky. out

[airstryke4life]

Ya I can't imagine very high results either. At least no 6m+ jumps, except possibly Yevgeniy Lukyanenk, he's back competing again so it's just a matter of time.

And does "-6p" stand for 6 meters something?

Good luck to our guys in Daegu!

-A-Life

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/athletic ... 1jeeh.html

Poor prep raises bar for Hooker
Michael Gleeson
August 27, 2011

Steve Hooker and Sally Pearson, members of the Australian athletic team competing in South Korea.
Steve Hooker is realistic about his chances.

STEVE Hooker knows he is not ready. He knows he can still pull out a big jump, but can't guarantee when. And in between clearing a high bar, the reigning Olympic and world champion knows with the form he is in at the moment, he is still just as liable to fluff it at the lower heights.

Hooker is probably the best pole vaulter in the world, but he is an outsider to win the world championships in Daegu, South Korea, starting today. His preparation is not yet where it needs to be.

For several years, Hooker has been the commanding presence in world pole vault, winning wherever he went, indulging the liberty of his sport to swoop in late and win on minimal jumps. This time though, after battling injury, he enters the competition the reigning champion but not the favourite. Others have jumped consistently and cleared 5.90 metres this year. The Australian Flame team captain has not, and his jumps can vary wildly - by up to half a metre.

Physically, he is OK. It is a mental difference for, without the volume of jumps, he lacks the intuitive confidence to jump - which in a sport that requires you to launch yourself from a pole at great speed, absolute faith in being ready is essential in order to fly.

''For the first time, I'm at a point where it's not my body that's the issue. It's probably now just the preparation that I've had. Ideally I'd like to have a full preparation, being healthy all the way through and had a couple of more comps. I'm probably at a point now where my jumps can be a bit inconsistent, I can be anywhere in a 50 centimetre range. I'm not ruling anything out, but I really think it's going to be a real fight for me out there,'' Hooker said.

''On my good jumps I've cleared bars by big margins, but it's the jumps in between that are giving the opposition a fair bit of confidence that they will be available to beat me.''

Normally Hooker and his coach Alex Parnov operate on a rule of doing 60 jumps on a full run-up approach before the first competition of the season. This year he did eight. The more he jumps, the more confident he is in jumping and knowing that he will hit the height he wants.

''Ideally, for a good jump, you stand at the end of the runway and know exactly what's going to happen over the next 18 steps. Exactly how it's going to feel, then you can take off with confidence and have a good jump. Right now I'm getting down the runway in the last month or so just being cautious, being a bit unsure of what's going in.

''Physically now I'm in much better shape but I haven't had the jumps to back that up. I haven't been in shape long enough to put together the number of jumps needed to stand at the end of the runway and know exactly what the jump is going to look like.''

Parnov admitted Hooker was unlikely to clear the 6-metre mark he would probably need to clear to win the gold, but he expected him to be on the dais and was equally sure his rivals were acutely aware of the strength of the shaggy-haired Australian.

''Steve doesn't need any sign above his head to say, ''I'm here and I'm here for a reason''. In Berlin he did it on one leg. Mentally, he's the strongest athlete in the field. It will all happen on one day, the most important day this year, who knows what will happen? He's capable of grabbing a medal,'' Parnov said.

''To jump 6 metres - to win, in my opinion - will be a bit of a stretch. I will eat my hat if he can do that. I think 6 metres will be the mark if the conditions are OK. But if conditions are wet like they have been this week, it might not be the best pole vaulter who wins; it will be the guy who can adapt to the conditions and survive the longest in the comp.''

Hooker dislikes the idea that when he stands at the top of the runway this morning - on the opening day of the championships in the rare position of not being favourite to win it - should serve as a liberating experience.

''It's not good … I would have liked to have jumped 5.90 metres like a couple of guys have because that gives you confidence in the lead-up. It's a different kind of challenge and I always enjoy that challenge. For me, it's important to take that challenge on, though I know I'm not jumping at my best.''

He will today take a different approach, entering the competition earlier than has been his custom, and focusing more heavily on the early qualifying rounds. Previously, he knew that on a bad day he would still clear 5.70 metres. Now, he is sure of nothing but the fact that he has the jumps in him.

[rainbowgirl28]

I edited the first post to include a link to a thread of T&F News with links to various live video feeds.

[rainbowgirl28]

One hour to go!

[rainbowgirl28]

Here is the link to the live results: http://www.iaaf.org/live/wch11/index.html

And here is a free live video feed: http://linkupvideos.com/watch/958d9ef0e ... -Singapore

[rainbowgirl28]

From what I have heard on the video so far, the weather is awesome. 75 degrees and a light breeze, though it's morning there and I am sure it will get hotter.

[Pogo Stick]

I edited the first post to include a link to a thread of T&F News with links to various live video feeds.

Here is CBC videostream (Canada only): http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Sports/Live_Streaming

[rainbowgirl28]

Should be getting started any minute now...

Qualification standard 5.70m (Q) or at least best 12 (q) qualified

[rainbowgirl28]

Picture of the setup: http://yfrog.com/h2xnzbztj

[rainbowgirl28]

Ah here we go, the IAAF website has finally updated.

Height progression: 5.20 5.35 5.50 5.60 5.65 5.70

[rainbowgirl28]

In group A, everyone but Maia of Portugal passed. 5.20. Maia NHd.

Three athletes in group B cleared 5.20 on their first attempt including Yoo Kim, the IAAF website then went down...

But the bar is now at 5.35 and the feed tells us that Hollis is over 5.35 on his first

[rainbowgirl28]

Also clearing 5.20 in group B were Lewis and Bychkov.

Clearing 5.35 on their first:
Yurchenko, Clavier, Jeremy Scott, Borges, Michalski, Filipidis, Starodubstev, Didenkow, Wojchiechowski and Hollis.