by Larry Eder
photo by PhotoRun.net
Tonight, in sixth place, World and Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva cleared one height, 4.65, on her first attempt, then took one attempt at 4.75m and her last two attempts at 4.80m, trying to win the meet. She did not. Her second World Outdoor Champs in a row where she did not win a medal.
In fifth place, Yarisley Silva set a national record tonight at 4.70 meters. She cleared 4.45m, 4.55m, 4.65m, and took three to clear 4.70m, her new National record. She missed three times at 4.80m.
In fourth place, Jenn Suhr, of the US, who has cleared 4.91m this year, cleared 4.65m on her first attempt, 4.70m on her second attempt, and then missed three times at 4.80m.
In third place, the grand dame of the women’s pole vault, Svetlana Feofanova, who won her first medal back in 1999, took the bronze tonight. She cleared 4.45m, 4.55m, 4.65m, an 4.75m, all on first attempts. She then missed three attempts at 4.80m.
The silver medalist was the real star of the event. Martina Strutz of Germany, with her sunglasses and tattoos, cleared 4.45m on her second attempt, 4.55, 4.65m, 4.70m, on her first attempts, then, two attempts for 4.75m, and 4.80m on her first attempt! A new German National record! She then took one attempt at 4.85m, and two final attempts at 4.90m.
In first place, with the gold medal was Fabiana Murer of Brasil. Fabiana cleared. 4.55m and 4.65m on her first attempts, passed at 4.70m, then cleared 4.75m on her first attempt, cleared 4.80m on two attempts and 4.85m on her first attempt, took two attempts at 4.90m and then one final at 4.92m.
She won at 4.85 meters, and adds this to her gold medal from the 2010 World Indoors!
