Murto sets 4.71m for World Junior Record, from EME News

Wilma Murto, photo courtesy of European Athletics

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ZWEIBRUCKEN (GER, Jan 31): Finnish talent Wilma Murto (will be 18 in June) improved at Pole Vault indoor meet in Germany twice the overall World Junior record. First with 465 and then with 471. Best outdoor junior mark of Eliza McCartney of New Zealand was 464 and best indoor mark 463 by Angelica Bengtsson from Sweden. Murto did not compete at World Youth Champs last summer, but at European Juniors in Eskilstuna and no-heighted in the finals. On Sunday she started with 425, 435 and 445 all in first. Then she equaled her national junior record 455 and later achieved first World junior record of the day 465 in opening attempt. Her shape was superb as she cleared another World junior record 471 in second attempt. At the end two attemps at 477 were registered. Second Nicole Buchler of Switzerland 465 national record ahead of Finnish former record holder Minna Nikkanen 445 and home Silke Spiegelburg 445. MurtoÂ´s mark is also best Finnish ever in any category or conditions. 2013 World champion Raphael Holzdeppe won men with 571 ahead of Robert Sobera from Poland and French Kevin Menaldo as both got 561.

Editor’s note: The women’s pole vault provides us with two records in two days. Nice to see Ms. Murto continue to improve. Her series on Sunday, on 4.25m, 4.35m, 4.45m, then, 4.65m WJR and 4.71m WJR. Murto has talent. Let’s see how she builds over the season.

Author

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys.

Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

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