Jamaica — Samuels on Saturday broke the National Senior Record in the pole vault when he cleared 5.31m, just marginally over the 5.30m set 10 years ago in 2002 by Jabari Ennis, while competing at the Texas Tech Invitational in Lubbock, Texas.Samuels who was competing for South Plains Junior College and who also hold the National Junior Record 4.85m set in 2009, cleared the height on his second attempt to finish third in the competition behind Jack Whitt of Oral Roberts University and Kayal Meyers of Texas Tech who both cleared 5.41m

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/Samuels-sets-pole-vault-record#ixzz1sLshtAbj

(Reuters) – Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, chasing her third straight Olympic gold medal at the London Games this year, says the strain of training will force her to retire in two years.”When I’m on the track, I always think, oh my goodness it’s so easy. Why can’t it be all the time the same. But once I get off the podium, I was like ‘oh, I’m too tired for the training’,” the 29-year-old told the Laureus website (www.laureus.com).”I decide that another two years and then I will retire. Training becomes difficult…every year the body is getting old it becomes harder and harder to prepare for the competition. I enjoy competition more than training.”Isinbayeva’s will to win was on display last month at the world indoor championships in Istanbul, where she claimed a fourth title and her first major victory since her Beijing gold in 2008.Isinbayeva’s confidence is definitely back if her pre-Olympics talk is anything to go by.”In London, my main competitors will be myself, because I know how high I can jump and I know that height is almost impossible for my rivals,” said the Russian, who holds the outdoor record of 5.06 metres.”My coach says that my potential is 5.10 and higher, so that right now and with my present preparation, I am able to jump 5.10.”I am not worrying about the Olympics. I am confident because I know that right now everything is fine in my life.”Isinbayeva’s life has not always been rosy despite a bagful of records and high profile titles.

Continue reading →