Posted: July 26, 2005

Athletics: Wariner Back On Top While Xiang Becomes First Male Chinese Athlete To Lead His Event - IAAF World Rankings

Monte Carlo - Reigning Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner (USA) moved back into first place in the Men’s 400m Event Rankings this week after being relegated to second just seven days ago. Although the 21-year-old was beaten on the line at the Norwich Union Super Grand Prix by Britain’s Tim Benjamin, Wariner’s time of 44.86 (1310 points) was enough to lift him over previous world number one, Otis Harris.

Benjamin finished with 44.75 (1337 points) - a new personal best for the British star - who dipped below the 45-second barrier for the first time. With this victory, Benjamin did not only cause the biggest surprise of the meeting, but also moved up six places to 11th in the Event Rankings.

But the best performance at Crystal Palace came from Russia’s Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS) who first set her 16th World record with a 4.96m jump, then immediately after became the first woman ever to clear the historic height of 5.00m (1450 points).

The 23 year-old turned in the best performance by a woman so far this year. In fact, the last occasion that any woman other than the Russian World Record holder scored more than 1450 points was in Athens at last summer’s Olympic Games. With this victory, Isinbayeva extended her lead both at the head of the Event Rankings and in the Overall World Rankings.

Poland’s Anna Rogowska, who also attempted a would-be World record at 4.96m before Isinbayeva cleared it, had to settle for 4.80m (1310 points) in London, her second national record in two months. As a result, Rogowska moved up one place to second in the Event Rankings, behind Isinbayeva.

Olympic 110m Hurdles champion Liu Xiang is the new leader in his Event Rankings. While Xiang did not compete over the past week, four-time world champion and previous number one Allen Johnson dropped points, as his victory from last year’s Paris Golden League meeting turned a year old this week. With Johnson slipping to second, co-World record holder Xiang becomes the first Chinese male athlete ever to lead an Event Ranking of the IAAF World Rankings.

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