Yelena Isinbaeva of Russia holds her national flag as she celebrates setting a new world record of 5.03 meters in the women's pole vault during the Golden Gala IAAF Golden League at the Olympic stadium in Rome July 11, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Yellena Isinbayeva finally set another world record in the pole vault, Jeremy Wariner turned the tables on rival LaShawn Merritt in the 400 meters and Asafa Powell injured his groin at the star-studded Golden Gala meet yesterday.
Isinbayeva cleared 5.03 meters with ease on her second attempt, nearly three years after she set the previous mark of 5.01 at the 2005 world championships in Helsinki, Finland.
The Russian had repeatedly tried to clear 5.02 over the past few seasons and decided with her new coach Vitaly Petrov that a switch to 5.03 might help psychologically.
Yelena Isinbaeva of Russia jumps and sets a new world record in the women's pole vault during the Golden Gala IAAF Golden League at the Olympic stadium in Rome July 11, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
"(Vitaly) said we have to change something," Isinbayeva said. "I was ready for a world record. My goal today was to beat the world record."
In the 400, Wariner beat Merritt in a photo finish a week after Merritt stunned Olympic and two-time world champion Wariner at the US trials.
This time, Wariner won in 44.36 seconds -- one-hundredth ahead of Merritt.
"I got out strong. I worked my tires. I finally executed like I should have at trials," Wariner said.
Defending Olympic silver medalist Francis Obikwelu won the 100 after former world record holder Powell pulled out of the final with a groin cramp.
Double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius missed out in another attempt to qualify for the Olympics, finishing seventh in the 400 B race. The South African crossed in 46.62 seconds. He needs to run a 45.55 to qualify for the Olympics.
Only two athletes kept alive a chance at the Golden League's USUS$1 million (€640,000) jackpot -- Blanka Vlasic in the high jump and Pamela Jelimo in the 800 meters.
Vlasic improved her victory streak to 32 by clearing 2.00 meters, but failed on all three of her attempts at 2.05 -- having cleared 2.06 twice this season.
Jelimo, an 18-year-old Kenyan who burst atop the international scene this year, confirmed her status as the best two-lap runner in the world with a meet-record 1:55.69 -- well ahead of world champion Janeth Jepkosgei, who crossed second in 1:58.74.
Bershawn Jackson's jackpot hopes ended when he was beaten by fellow American Kerrin Clement in the 400 hurdles. Clement, the world champion, won in 48.23. Jackson, the 2005 world champion, finished in 48.34.
Hussein Al-Sabee, the last man in the jackpot hunt, was eliminated when he finished third in the long jump, behind world champion Irving Saladino and Mohamed Al-Khuwalidi. Saladino leaped 8.30 meters.
