Helsinki - Hooker 5.83

[rainbowgirl28]

http://live.time4results.com/yu/2006/he ... 8-1-r.html

GE Money Grand Prix, Helsinki

Pole Vault Men

Ranka # Name Result 528
576 538
583 548
588 555
595 562
601 569
1 2 Steve Hooker
Australia 583 -
- -
O -
-
X- O
XX -
2 7 Spas Bukhalov
Bulgaria 569 -
XXX -
O
-
O
XO
3 8 Fabian Schulze
Germany 569 -
XXX -
X-
XO
-
XXO
4 5 Russ Buller
USA 562 -
-
O
-
XO
XXX
4 1 Paul Burgess
Australia 562 -
- -
XXX -
-
XO
-
6 3 Lars Börgeling
Germany 562 -
XXX -
O
-
XXO
-
7 9 Matti Mononen
Finland 548 -
-
O
-
-
XXX
8 10 Jarno Kivioja
Finland 528 O
-
XXX


4 Daichi Sawano
Japan NH -
-
XXX

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/st ... 18,00.html

Hooker tops Games record
From staff writers
July 27, 2006
AUSTRALIA'S Commonwealth Games champion, Steve Hooker, won the pole vault at a grand prix athletics meeting in Helsinki, Finland today (AEST).
Hooker cleared 5.83 metres to comfortably beat Bulgaria's Spas Bukhalov (5.69 metres) and Germany's Fabian Schulze (5.69 metres).

The Victorian set a Commonwealth Games record in Melbourne in March when he jumped 5.80 metres.

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/20 ... 698390.htm

Hooker jumps to victory in Helsinki
Australia's Steve Hooker won the men's pole vault event at the Helsinki Grand Prix today.

The Commonwealth Games champion produced a jump of 5.83 metres to win from Bulgaria's Spas Bukhalov (5.69m) and Germany's Fabian Schulze (5.69m).

Fellow Australian Paul Burgess finished fourth with a leap of 5.62m.

It was Hooker's best leap in a major competition and moved towards his personal best of 5.91m.

Hooked set a new Commonwealth Games record with a jump of 5.80 metres in March.

"The conditions were tricky tonight and I got a bit of luck with some winds," Hooker was quoted as saying on Athletics Australia's website.

"After clearing 5.83 on my first attempt I had one jump at 5.95 and then went to a bigger pole and had two cracks at 6.01.

"They were so close - I just shaved the bar on the way down which was pretty exciting."

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.athletics.org.au/news/detail ... D2006%2C07

Hooker Flies like an Eagle in Helsinki







Steve Hooker puts his back into it in the pole vault at the World Championships in Helsinki


27 July 2006 | 7.51am

Victories by Australia’s track and field stars in the major European meets continued overnight with Commonwealth Games pole vault champion Steve Hooker scoring an impressive win at the IAAF World Tour in Helsinki.

Hooker’s leap of 5.83m is his best in a major competition and approached his personal best of 5.91m set in interclub in Melbourne. He won in Helsinki by 14 centimeters with Bulgaria's Spas Bukhalov (5.69m) and Germany's Fabian Schulze (5.69m). Fellow Australia Paul Burgess was fourth (5.62m).

Now based in Perth, Hooker and new training partner Paul Burgess were the only remaining competitors attempting 5.83m. Hooker cleared on his first attempt, and 'Buggie' failed his three efforts, placing equal fourth with his second-up clearance at 5.62m.

The 24-year old recently moved from Melbourne to train with Burgess and his coach Alex Parnov and the move is already paying dividends.

Hooker shrugged of a nagging back complaint to dominant the competition and credited West Australian physiotherapist Jocelyn Young for being able to compete. Burgess and Hooker, along with sponsorship from the West Coast Eagles football club, have funded Young’s tour to ensure the duo remain in top shape.

"I strained my hamstring just before we left Australia, but thanks to the Eagles we bought Jocelyn with us and it has really made a difference. I was considering not jumping tonight but warmed up ok so went for it," Hooker said.

"The conditions were tricky tonight and I got a bit of luck with some winds. After clearing 5.83 on my first attempt I had one jump at 5.95 and then went to a bigger pole and had two cracks at 6.01. They were so close – I just shaved the bar on the way down which was pretty exciting."

The results tonight virtually confirm spots in the lucrative IAAF World Athletics Final in Stuttgart in September for both Burgess and Hooker. After recording a 1-2 finish in the Rome Golden League two weeks ago, Burgess leads the World Tour rankings, with Hooker moving to third place. Five other Australians are well placed for a spot in the final, with long jump Bronwyn Thompson leading the Tour rankings, 1500m runner Sarah Jamieson is third, shot putter Scott Martin fourth and pole vaulters Kym Howe and Tatiana Grigorieva third and fourth respectively. Clinton Hill is ninth and will need to improve two places to guarantee entry and get the chance for a huge pay day in Germany.