MODESTO, California, May 9 (AFP) - US vaulter TobyStevenson became only the ninth man in history to clearsix meters in the pole vault after clearing exactly thatheight to win the event here Saturday at the ModestoRelays.
Stevenson’s performance was 25 centimeters ahead ofrunner-up compatriot Jeff Hartwig, who matched theprevious 2004 best of 5.75m set by Australian DmitriMarkov in Brisbane on January 23.
Stevenson, 27, a former US collegiate champion fromStanford who wears a black roller hockey helmet forsafety, has suddenly become a hot medal prospect for theAthens Olympics in August, providing he is selected.
His winning jump was his 11th of the day and put himalongside Hartwig as the only US men to reach the 6.00mbarrier. The world record stands at 6.14m to SergeiBubka.
Reigning Olympic women’s pole vault champion StacyDragila won her event by clearing 4.55m, well off herbest but still enough to beat fellow American TracyO’Hara by 10cm.
Inger Miller was the star on the track. The Americanwon the women’s 100m in 11.06sec and completed thesprint double with the 200m in 23.16.