Renaud Lavillenie, the world indoor champion, lived up to his position as favourite to retain his pole vault title here. But only after a prodigious struggle with Bjorn Otto, one of three Germans who ended up disputing the medals, which prompted the Frenchman to a clearance of 5.97m that was only four centimetres less than his 2009 personal best of 6.01 and now sees him head towards the Olympics at the top of the 2012 world rankings.
It was world class entertainment for an appreciative home crowd enjoying sunny weather which was in total contrast to the heavy rain of the previous night.
Lavillenie, who had required 5.85 to win European gold in Barcelona two years ago, underlined his supremacy with three first time clearances at 5.87, 5.92 and then 5.97 as the 34-year-old Otto, surely producing the performance of his career, settled eventually for silver with 5.92, a personal best by two centimetres.
“It was a different type of competition than I expected,” said Lavillenie. “From my second attempt at 5.82 I started to believe I could win this. A great result and an unbelievable competition.” Continue reading
Daily Archives: July 1, 2012
Rivals vault past Hooker’s level
RENAUD Lavillenie fired a broadside at Olympic pole vault contenders by defending his European title with a soaring best of 5.97 metres. Defending Olympic champion Steve Hooker’s 2012 best is 5.72 metres, leaving him well behind his rivals heading into the London games. Frenchman Lavillenie entered the competition at 5.60m – with seven of the 12-strong field already out, needing two efforts to pass that before opting out until 5.77m, which he sailed over. He vaulted 5.82 at the third time of asking in a duel of gamemanship with German Bjorn Otto, who passed at 5.87, which Lavillenie cleared in his first effort in Helsinki. Both vaulters were then successful at 5.92m, Lavillenie upping the ante when he sailed over a world lead of 5.97m in brilliant sunshine and still conditions at the Olympic Stadium. Otto passed but failed his three efforts at 6.02m, as did Lavillenie.
Brad Walker at the trials
Walker win pole vault at the Olympic track trials
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Brad Walker won his fourth U.S. pole vault title, clearing 18 feet, 7 1/4 inches at the Olympic track trials Thursday night for a spot on the U.S. team for the London Games.Jeremy Scott was second at 18-4 1/.4, and Scott Roth third at the same height, but Roth does not have the Olympic “A standard this season of 18-9 1/4 required to compete in the Olympics.The third spot on the team went to fourth-place finisher Derek Miles, who finished fourth at the Beijing Games.Walker set the American record of 19-9 3/4 at the Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field in 2008. He finished third in the Olympic trials that year before no-heighting in Beijing.
Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/article/Walker-win-pole-vault-at-the-Olympic-track-trials-3671759.php#ixzz1zOg0987m
Lavillenie retains pole vault title at Europeans
HELSINKI — Renault Lavillenie of France scaled a world-leading 5.97 meters to retain his pole vault title at the European Championships on Sunday, beating a top-class field he will face again at the London Olympics. Lavillenie was one jump away from losing his hold on the European title after two misses at 5.82, but he responded brilliantly.Bjoern Otto of Germany vaulted a personal best of 5.92 to stay with the Frenchman, but failed three times at 6.02 while attempting to win the title.In the best competition of the five-day championships, Raphael Holzdeppe of Germany took bronze with 5.77.The event had the top five performers of 2012 in the lineup, and the top two went higher than the year’s previous best of 5.91 source
USATF JO Associations Results
Alabama
Pole Vault Young Men
1 Foxworth, Connor Hvc-Alabama 5.04m 4.67mR 15-03.75
2 McDonald, Myles Unattached 3.80m 12-05.50
3 Toner, Wesley Hoover Parks 3.05m 10-00.00
3 Thrasher, Christopher Hoover Parks 3.05m 10-00.00
Pole Vault Intermediate Boys
1 Knight, Alex Hoover Parks 2.90m 9-06.25
2 Entrekin, Matthew Hoover Parks 2.75m 9-00.25
Pole Vault Youth Boys
1 Harrelson, Whitt Magic City Track 2.60m 8-06.25
Pole Vault Intermediate Girls
1 Lorge, Moriah Alabama TC 3.35m 3.20m 10-06.00
Mary Saxer Blog: Ready!
It’s Sunday, the official start of the week…the week of the Olympic Trials! Last weekend I competed in the NY Diamond League and although it wasn’t the ideal result I wanted, it was just what I needed going into the trials. I felt strong and fast on the runway, cleared a couple bars on my 15 foot poles and had some overall positives come from the competition. Since NY I have been working on a couple good new cues that really clicked for me and my vault practices have been some of my best! I feel fit and just so ready to get out to Eugene for the trials. At this point I’ve done everything I can to prepare, now it’s time to put everything together and HAVE FUN! A good friend, and former ND teammate of mine, emailed me this past week reminding me how far I have come over the last few years. I have put in all the work, I have all the tools, now it’s time to just go out there and do my thing. Most importantly she reminded me to stay relaxed, as hard as that may be, and to just have fun because in the end that is what it’s all about. As I go into the trials it’s easy to get caught up in all the pressures of the week, but I need to take a moment to step back and really take it all in. I am competing at the Olympic Trials for the United States, how cool. I am truly blessed to be doing what I’m doing, chasing my dreams each and everyday. Thank you to my amazing family and coach for being by my side and helping to give me this opportunity, that so many dream of, to chase my Olympic dreams. On to TrackTown USA…anxious, excited, and ready! 
Sun Jun 17th, 2012 more
Brad Walker Blog:Heading into Olympic Trials
Posted on June 18, 2012 –Heading into the Olympic trials is a unique time for a track and field athlete. Training is not really that different, but there is something in the air. I can remember way back in 2004 struggling to leave the ground in practice during my last week before trials. All the pressure, excitement and anticipation was swirling around and I couldn’t seem to take up jumps, a problem I rarely have. I placed 6th that year and needed a new PR of 5.85 to make the team. I was soooo close to getting that PR, but was just a touch short. A fun meet for sure.In 2008 I was coming off of a pretty big high setting the AR at Pre and jumping another 6 meter jump in my next meet. But you still have to make the team at nationals so there is still the nerves of trials. I made my qualifying bar as the only competitor jumping the height of 18’4 as we had already eliminated half the field. It was pressure filled to be the only jumper jumping, but was also a pretty fun experience. I placed third at the final and secured my spot to Beijing.For 2012, I am just excited. I’ve begun to love the nervous excitement. It’s how you know something important is approaching and the trials will begin that journey for me. I can’t wait to get into Eugene and step back on Hayward field. I love the runway, pit and crowd and am excited to compete. One week left of training, one jump session, a bit of therapy, and off we go.See you in Eugene! more
Jamaican Jabari Ennis Blog: Bump in the Road… (and in my hamstring)
I’m being as patient as a human can possibly be at this point. I followed the plan coach and I put together to be consistent, and it is working. every jump since Tuesday has been solid, and I’m ready for the breakthrough.
However, the universe needed me to wait a bit longer. During warm-ups on saturday at the Samford Multi Competition, after having great jumps, I strained my hamstring a bit on the takeoff.
It was tweaked bad enough to take me out of competition for the day. The feeling of frustration is unimaginable at this point.
I’ve taken thousands of jumps in practice, lifted tons of weight, sprinted many miles, and done endless gymnastic and abdominal workouts. I’ve trained my concentration, and honed my competition skills.
There is nothing left to do but thank God for everything that I’ve been able to do, and now execute all that he has given me.I’ll be in rehab and training this week, getting better and getting ready for the next one. more
