PARIS, Feb 14: Australia’s Olympic polevault champion Steve Hooker eased to victory at the Paris-Bercy indoor meeting here on Friday, but was thwarted again in his bid to snatch Sergei Bubka’s 16-year-old world record of 6.15m.

Hooker cleared 6.00m with France’s Romain Mesnil and Derek Miles of the United States finishing on 5.72m.

The Australian arrived in Paris fresh from achieving 6.06m at the Boston Indoor Games last weekend, the second-best performer of all-time.

“I wasn’t very well, not very fresh. I didn’t think about the record,” said Hooker who has been suffering from a fever. I hope to do a good jump in Donetsk.”

Hooker will head for Donetsk on Sunday to take part in a meeting created by Bubka.—AFP