http://www.iaaf.org/WIC10/index.htmlWhen Yelena Isinbayeva says that competing in Donetsk is like competing at home, she isn't just being diplomatic.Since rising to the top of the world stage in the Pole Vault, the Russian hasn't missed an appearance in this southeast Ukrainian city since her first in 2004, and she has yet to lose.
Another sellout crowd won't be expecting anything less when the 27-year-old returns to the Druzhba Auditorium tomorrow for the 21st edition of the Pole Vault Stars Meeting.Not only has Isinbayeva remained undefeated here, but she has competed consistently well.
She has produced history's four highest clearances in Donetsk - a few more if you include ancillary efforts - topped by her 5.00m leap a year ago, the first indoors beyond that majestic barrier. In all, she has raised the World record indoors eight times in Donetsk, twice last year - first to 4.97m before having the bar raised to 5.00m.
Saturday's outing will be just the second of her abbreviated indoor campaign, and her last prior to her title defense at the World Indoor Championships in Doha next weekend.
Her first competition of the year was in Moscow on 78 February where she won with a first attempt clearance at 4.85m. She continued with three attempts to improve upon the mark she set in Donetsk last year, first with two at 5.01m, and another at 5.02m.But Donetsk, as the meet’s name implies, is never a one-woman (or one-man) show. The women’s field is the strongest to be assembled this year, with Brazil’s Fabiana Murer leading the challengers. The 2008 World indoor bronze medallist continues to improve.
In two of her three competitions this winter the 28-year-old has raised her own South American record indoors, first to 4.81m in Stuttgart and again to 4.82m in Birmingham two weeks ago. Others in the mix include Russians Yuliya Golubchikova and Tatyana Polnova who have mastered 4.70m this season. The field also includes Chelsea Johnson of the USA (4.62m), Briton Kate Dennison (4.60m), Caroline Hingst (4.60m) and Kristina Gadschiew of Germany (4.60m), and Poland’s Monika Pyrek (4.60m) who have all cleared 4.60m or better in 2010.
On the men’s side, seven of the 10 vaulters on the slate have cleared 5.70m or better this year, making for an unpredictable affair. Among the standouts are freshly-minted Russian indoor champion Dmitriy Starodubtsev (5.70m), 2004 Olympic champion and Doha-bound Tim Mack of the USA, Russian Aleksandr Gripich, and Steven Lewis of Great Britain.
Bob Ramsak and organisers for the IAAF
Nos últimos 300 metros dos 21,097km da prova, Giomar foi literalmente empurrado pela torcida, que o incentivou com gritos de "Brasil". Ele completou o percurso com o tempo de 1h04min31s, apenas 1 segundo de vantagem sobre Kiprop e 6 segundos na frente de Mathew, o que tornou a Praça Charles Miller, no Pacaembu, numa grande festa.
Na categoria feminina, a queniana Rumokol Elizabeh Chepkanan não encontrou adversárias. Apesar de recém-chegada ao Brasil, a atleta da equipe Luasa, de Luís Antonio dos Santos, venceu com folga os 21.097m, com o tempo de 1h14min35s. "Era para ter conseguido um tempo melhor. Cheguei gripada ao Brasil e fiquei longe da minha melhor marca de 1h11min. Mesmo assim fiquei feliz com a vitória", lembrou a atleta que ficará até o final de maio no Brasil.
"Esta foi a minha primeira prova do ano e eu precisava deste teste. Estou voltando de lesão no calcanhar esquerdo e senti falta de ritmo e cansaço, além de insegurança de voltar a sentir dores na contusão", disse. "O percurso da prova é bastante exigente e fiquei contente com o meu desempenho. Não tinha um objetivo de tempo, mas devido às dificuldades acho que a marca foi muito boa. Além disso, não senti nada da lesão."