BOSTON, Feb 23 Reuters - World champion Brad Walker easily won the pole vault on the opening day of the US selection meeting for next month’s world indoor championships.
Walker cleared 5.70m on his first attempt to claim the US title, then missed three times at 5.85m.
``I had gotten a little banged up in a meet in Glasgow, Scotland. My ankles and feet took a hit in the plant box,’’ Walker said.
``But I’m pretty much back to normal now.’’
The world indoor and outdoor champion said he hoped to win more gold in the March 7-9 IAAF world indoor championships in Valencia, Spain.
``This was the plan from the beginning to compete indoors, head for the world indoors and then begin gearing up for the outdoor trials,’’ he said.
Rory Quiller finished second, on misses, ahead of Olympic silver medallist Toby Stevenson and 35-year-old Olympian Derek Miles. All cleared 5.60m.
The top two finishers in each event are eligible for the world championships.
Other winners included Matt Tegenkamp, 8:02.52 in the 3,000m; Aarik Wilson, 16.91m in the triple jump; former world junior champion Andra Manson, 2.30m in the high jump; and Christin Wurth-Thomas, 4:14.21 in the women’s 1,500m.
The U.S. championships conclude on Sunday with Olympic silver medallist Adam Nelson and world indoor and outdoor champion Reese Hoffa highlighting a world-class shot put competition.
Many top Americans, including world outdoor champions Tyson Gay, Bernard Lagat, Jeremy Wariner and Allyson Felix, skipped the meeting to continue preparations for August’s Beijing Olympics.
LINK TO START LISTS/RESULTS …
http://www.usatf.org/events/2008/USAIndoorTFChampionships/startLists/