US vaulter flops at world indoors

BIRMINGHAM: World-record holder Stacy Dragila failed to qualify for the final of the women’s pole vault at the World Indoor Athletics Champion-ships yesterday, ruining her highly-anticipated showdown against Russian rival Svetlana Feofanova.

Dragila, the Olympic and two-time world outdoor champion, failed in three attemps to clear the qualifying height of 4.30 metres (14 feet, 1 1/4 inches) —- well short of her world mark of 4.78 (15-8 1-4). For the American team, Dragila’s amazing flop was partly made up later by a stunning gold medal for long jumper Dwight Phillips and victory for Michelle Collins in the women’s 200 in the third-fastest time ever. Having led from the second round with a leap of 8.23 metres (27 feet), Phillips, who had never been close to a medal at a major international championship, appeared to have lost the gold when strong favourite Yago Lamela of Spain took the lead with 8.28 metres (27 feet, 2 inches).

Jumping last, the 25-year-old American then leaped his best ever, 8.29 (27 2 1/2), to snatch the title by 0.01 (less than 1/2 inch). He raced across the infield in celebration and then charged down the track, waving too the crowd. “I’m absolutely ecstatic,” he said. Collins was neck and neck with Muriel Hurtis of France on the final bend but pulled away to win in 22.18 seconds. Only sprint greats Merlene Ottey and Irina Privalova had run faster. Dragila, meanwhile, was dejected. On her third attempt, she hung onto the upright pole in dismay as the crowd watched in disbelief.

Feofanova, whose world record Dragila had broken at the US Indoor Championships in Boston on March 2, was next to compete and sailed over the bar on her first attempt. She is now a clear favourite to win the gold in today’s final. Britain’s Marlon Devonish overcame a tense start to the 200 metres final to win in 20.62 seconds ahead of Joseph Batangdon of Cameroon. The race was held up by the false start disqualification of countryman Allyn Condon, the first of the championship since new rules were introduced. Condon immediately lodged a protest pending an appeal and was allowed to race but withdrew the appeal after failing to make the medals. It was the host nation’s second gold in the space of 20 minutes. World record holder Ashia Hansen won the triple jump with a leap of 15.01 metres (49 feet 3 inches) to tie the third best of all time. Hansen received her medal from Cherie Blair, wife of Prime Minister Tony Blair.

In the absence of Moroccan star Hicham El Guerrouj, who decided to concentrate on the outdoor Worlds in Paris in August, Moroccan-born Dris Maazouzi of France won the 1,500 metres in three minutes 42.59 seconds. He finished ahead of Bernard Lagat of Kenya, who edged him for the silver medal at the outdoor Worlds in Edmonton two years ago. Sweden’s Stefan Holm won the high jump with a leap of 2.35 metres (7 feet 8 1/2 inches) and Russia’s Irina Korzhanenko heaved 20.55 metres (67 feet 5 1/4) to take gold in the women’s shot. Germany’s Tim Lobinger won the men’s pole vault, clearing 5.80 metres (19 feet, 1/4 inches), for his first world title. Another German, Michael Stolle, took silver at 5.75 metres (18 feet, 10 1/4), with Rens Blom of the Netherlands third in the same height.

Ethiopia won gold and bronze in the women’s 3,000 metres, Berhane Adere winning the race in 8:40.25 and Meseret Defar taking third behind Marta Dominguez of Spain. Gail Devers charged into her first world indoor hurdles final with a championship best time; defending champion Allen Johnson just qualified in fourth place in his semifinal; and world 1,500-metre record-holder Regina Jacobs cruised into the final as fastest qualifier. Devers, who first won a world indoor title in the 60-metre dash 10 years ago in Toronto, took a big stride towards a first indoor 60 hurdles gold. The 36-year-old American won her first heat in 7.92 seconds and then ran a championship best 7.74 in the semifinal. Devers, who also won the 60 flat in 1997 in Paris, has the fastest time this year of 7.74 and should be favourite to add to her seven world and Olympic titles outdoors. In the men’s 60 hurdles, defending champion Johnson, Olympic gold medalist Anier Garcia and world-record holder Colin Jackson all made it to the final today.