Posted: July 5, 2004

Athletics: Feofanova cracks 16 feet in women's vault

Russian pole vaulter Svetlana Feofanova became the first woman in history to break the 16-foot barrier in the vault Sunday at the Super Grand Prix in Heraklion, Greece. Fellow Russian Gulnara Samitova also broke a world record at the meet, in the women's steeplechase.

Feofanova's clearance of 4.88 meters converts to 16 feet, 0 inches, and makes her the first woman to achieve the historic mark, which has long been eyed by women vaulters, including American Stacy Dragila.

The defending Olympic gold medalist, Dragila herself had crept nearer to the barrier on June 8 in Ostrava, Czech Republic, when she posted what at the time was the highest vault in history outdoors, 4.83m/15-10. On June 28 at the Norwich Union Grand Prix in Gateshead, England, Yelena Isinbayeva had improved on her own, overall world record (4.86m/15-11.25, set indoors in March) with a clearance of 4.87 meters/15 feet, 11.75 inches.

But Feofanova let Isinbayeva's mark last just 7 days, clearing 4.88m/16-0 on her second attempt in Greece. Isinbayeva placed second at 4.65m/15-3.

The vaulting bonanza promises an exciting competition at the Olympic Games in Athens, and perhaps even higher heights.

"I believe that 4.90 [16-0.75] will be quickly broken by either me or Isinbayeva or Dragila," Feofanova said Sunday, "since we have the potential to do this."

Dragila next competes in the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials in Sacramento, Calif., where in 2000 she set a then-world record. At the 2004 Olympic Trials, Dragila will compete in qualifying on Friday, July 16, with finals schedule for Sunday, July 18, the final day of competition.

Samitova ran utterly clear of the field in the women's steeplechase in breaking the world record. Her time of 9:01.59 was nearly 28 seconds ahead of Inzikuru Dorcus from Uganda in second (9:29.30).

Johnson posts Golden League win

Four-time world champion and 1996 Olympic gold medalist Allen Johnson turned back perhaps his potentially most threatening Olympic competition Thursday (July 2) at the Golden Gala in Rome, part of the IAAF's Golden League series.

According to the IAAF Web site, Johnson in Rome was clear of the field by the second hurdle. But Xiang Liu, the young world championships bronze medalist from China, came back on Johnson as both men crossed the line in 13.11. The 33-year-old Johnson was declared the winner in a photo finish. Xiang, who turns 21 on July 13, owns the fastest time in the world in 2004 with 13.06; Johnson's fastest time is 13.08. Both times were run in May.

Notable in Rome were rare losses by some of the most dominant athletes in the sport. Mexican 400m star Ana Guevara (49.74) was beaten by Tonique Williams of the Bahamas (49.25), as Williams ran a national record and 2004 world leader. World record holder Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco faded to eighth in the men's 1,500m (3:32.64) in a race won by Rashid Ramzi of Bahrain in a world-leading 3:30.25. Entering the Golden Gala, El Guerrouj had won 28 consecutive races and Guevara 24.

For full results of all IAAF competitions, visit www.iaaf.org.

From: USATF.org.