Athletics-Olympic champ Hooker clears 6.01 metres, misses record

January 31, 2009, Saturday |

Online Edition

OLYMPIC pole vault champion Steve Hooker surprised even himself when he soared to a lifetime best 6.01 metres before making three serious attempts at Sergei Bubka's indoor world record at the Millrose Games yesterday.

"That's the first time I've ever put the bar up to his world record," the Australian said after trying 6.16 metres, one centimetre higher than Ukrainian Bubka's 1993 record.

"To come out here and jump a personal best is a bit of surprise," added Hooker, who shook off a bruised knee to beat his previous outdoor mark of 6.00 metres set last year.

"I'm pretty thrilled right now. I hope this continues for me this year."

Only three men -- Bubka, Russian Radion Gataullin and American Jeff Hartwig -- have jumped higher indoors. Both Gataullin and Hartwig have cleared 6.02 metres.

Hooker's vault was also the highest ever indoors in the United States and the best in the world indoors in seven years.

The 26-year-old said he had bruised his knee training in Australia but was able to run and jump without pain. Only when he was decelerating did the knee hurt.

Hoping for more attempts at Bubka's record, Hooker plans to continue his US tour at the Boston Indoor Games on Feb 7, then vault three times in Europe before returning to Australia.

Athletics

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Athletics-Olympic champ Hooker clears 6.01 metres, misses record

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