DONETSK (Ukraine), Feb 16: Russia's athletics icon Yelena Isinbayeva set a new indoor world pole vault record of five metres at the annual Bubka memorial tournament here on Sunday.
The 26-year-old beat her previous record of 4.95 metres, which she achieved here last year, and it was the sixth time in as many years that she has set a new world record indoors in Donetsk.
Two-time Olympic champion Isinbayeva was trailing Brazilian Fabian Murer, who set a new South American record with a 4.81 metres vault, but managed to clear the 4.86-metre mark in her next attempt to assure herself top place.
Her next two attempts at 4.96 metres were unsuccessful, but on her third try she managed to clear 4.97 metres to set a new world record.
She then ordered the five-metre mark, which she managed to clear on her second attempt.
Steve Hooker of Australia, the Olympic champion, won men's pole-vault with 5.92 metres, but still short of Sergei Bubka's 16-year-old world record of 6.15 metres.
Leading results:
Men’s:
1. Steve Hooker (Australia) 5.92 metres; 2. Yevgeny Lukianenko (Russia) 5.82; 3. Derek Miles (US) 5.72; 4. Alhaji Jeng (Sweden) 5.72; 5. Olexander Korchmid (Ukraine) 5.62.
Women’s:
1. Yelena Isinbayeva (Russia) 5.00 metres (world record); 2. Fabiana Murer (Brazil) 4.81; 3. Monika Pyrek (Poland) 4.71; 4. Yulia Golubchikova (Russia) 4.71; 5. Carolin Hingst (Germany) 4.56.—AFP
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