Burgess best in West Australia

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx? ... ntID=18284

Burgess best in the West
10th January 2007, 8:00 WST




World No. 1 vaulter voted WA’s top athlete of 2006

Pole vaulter Paul Burgess last night claimed The West Australian ANZ Sports Star of the Year title for 2006 to complete a high-flying 72 hours.




Last Sunday, Burgess, 27, soared to a 5.91m clearance to win his event at Perth’s major annual track and field meeting, equalling his best of last year and propelling him to No. 1 in the world in 2007, a status he held for much of last year.

Burgess’ victory in the world athletics final at Stuttgart last September earned him the biggest pay cheque of his career after edging out American Toby Stevenson and German Tim Lobinger on a countback for the $40,000 first prize when all three had cleared 5.82m.

Burgess said he had mixed feelings after winning in Stuttgart.

“It was one of the best days of my life, but also the day I found out the Eagles had lost to Sydney in the first week of the finals,â€Â