German Women - Spiegelburg 4.65, Ryzih, Hingst 4.60

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http://www.iaaf.org/news/kind=100/newsid=57430.html


Spiegelburg to lead solid women's Pole Vault squad in Barcelona

At present the women’s Pole Vault is more competitive than the men’s event in Germany. It was no surprise that Silke Spiegelburg was on top at the end. Having collected plenty of international experience in recent years she won with a 4.65m leap from Lisa Ryzih and Carolin Hingst, who both cleared 4.60m. Those three will compete at the European Championships while Kristina Gadschiew missed out with 4.40m and fourth place.

Anna Battke failed to clear her opening height of 4.40m. In contrast Spiegelburg had a perfect approach to promising heights, clearing 4.40m and 4.55m with her first attempts. While Hingst and Ryzih already had had eight attempts when the bar was raised to 4.65m Spiegelburg had just two. While Spiegelburg cleared that height at her final attempt Ryzih then reacted and saved her final attempt for a would-be winning height of 4.70m but missed. Spiegelburg then bowed out with three misses at 4.75m. But it was still not quite over since Hingst had taken an unusual break after clearing 4.60m with her final attempt. She passed the next three (!) heights and came back at 4.80m but that was too high for her.

“It is a perfect result for me – I have won it and have qualified for Barcelona,” said Spiegelburg and added, “You can not always jump a personal best, but somehow I am a bit angry that I miss it so close so often. Hopefully it will work out in Barcelona. But before that I want to collect some more points in the Diamond League. So I will compete in Monte Carlo.”

Two German men are also capable of winning a medal in Barcelona. Malte Mohr won the national title on Saturday with a 5.75m clearance while the World junior record holder Raphael Holzdeppe took second with 5.70m. However the event was not as competitive as in recent years. Fabian Schulze was third with 5.60m.