http://www.iaaf.org/news/Kind=2/newsId=29304.html
Sunday 8 May 2005 Modesto, California - As has so often been the case in the recent history of the Modesto Relays, the Pole Vault took centre stage, as Olympians Toby Stevenson and Jillian Schwartz put on dazzling displays for the capacity crowd in the cozy stadium at Modesto Junior College at the 64th edition of the meet. "The American record is definitely in reach" For Stevenson, the silver medallist at the Athens Games, yesterday was a return to the site of his memorable six-metre jump last year, an achievement which gave him a self-confidence boost and put the helmeted vaulter onto a roll which lasted through the long summer. Today's 5.85 winning jump, coming on his third attempt at that height, lifted him out of a first-place tie with Russ Buller, who finished in second at 5.75 after chronic Achilles problems resulted in no-heights in his previous two outdoor appearances. Stevenson then called for 6.04 - a would-be American record - at which he had only one solid attempt. "Yes, I was a little tired today," said Stevenson, "but I put it up there because you never know what will happen." Unlike last year's competition at Modesto, when all the vaulters received an assist from the usual aiding winds here, today's meeting provided no such bonus, coming as it did during changing meteorological conditions between rainstorms. "The wind today wasn't helping us," Stevenson admitted, "but it wasn't hurting us, either." "I was a little rusty today, not as smooth as I had planned," he continued in his assessment. "But after last year, Modesto will forever be a special place for me. "At times like this, I always like to recall something I heard from (German vaulter) Tim Lobinger (who finished third here on 5.65. He said that 'the places I like to jump the most remind me of my living room'. Modesto is my 'living room'," observed Stevenson. Looking ahead to the rest of the outdoor season, he said that "the American record is definitely in reach. You saw that today. I was already taking shots at it in May." His next shots will come in a week's time at a competition in Phoenix, followed by the Palo Alto IAAF Grand Prix II meeting and the Prefontaine Classic (IAAF GP). Also jumping 5.65 in this very deep Pole Vault competition were Derek Miles and Jeff Hartwig, who finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Approaching his 38th birthday at the end of the summer, Hartwig deserves special notice for continuing to successfully attack world-class heights far past an age when most vaulters would have retired. Part of the fatigue to which Stevenson alluded came from the unusually long waiting time needed for the conclusion of the Women's Pole Vault which preceded the men's event and yielded the day's sole world-leading mark, a 4.55 by Jillian Schwartz. Mary Sauer and Dana Buller followed with 4.45 and 4.35, respectively. "It was only my second competition since the Olympics," said Schwartz, "the other being a 4.43 last weekend at Drake." Two stress fractures of her right (take-off) foot had necessitated a lengthy hiatus during the winter, but the protégée of Earl Bell was highly pleased that her return to competition after the long pause has been at a high level. Scott 'moves on' from American football to 10.06 dash Warm temperatures and a fast track have traditionally combined to produce fast sprint times, and today's competition added another chapter to this theme. Leonard Scott was impressive with a 100m clocking of 10.06 while running into a slight headwind of -0.2. Behind Scott were Jason Smoots (10.20) and Mark Jelks (10.22). "It was my first 100 of the year," said Scott, who had three April outings with his HSI teammates in the 4x100 relay. "I'm just trying to piece things together. I had a good indoor season, but outdoors is where it's at." The former Tennessee sprinter credited new coach John Smith with remoulding him after his return from a short fling with professional football. "I found out that I really didn't know how to run," Scott admitted. "He (Smith) has taught me so much. That's why my times dropped like they did during the indoor season." But surrounded by American sportswriters, Scott found the subject gravitating once again toward (American) football. "Yes, football is really my first love. I miss it," he said of a parallel sports career which culminated with a short tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers. "But in order to do what I'm doing now, I've got to forget it completely. I have good memories from those football years, but it's time to move on." Outstanding sprint hurdling – "he's going to be good" Both hurdle races were outstanding. Michelle Perry opened her outdoor hurdling season with a brilliant 12.78 performance. It was not far from her career best of 12.74 which came during last year's Olympic Heptathlon competition where she placed 14th overall. The Men's 110 Hurdles race was won by Anwar Moore in 13.23, representing a 0.12-second improvement on his previous best which came on this same track last year. Moore's big move to an international-class time was witnessed by four-time World champion Allen Johnson, who was taking a break from the hurdles with appearances in the 100 metres and the 4x100 relay. Observed Johnson, "he's going to be good. I raced him indoors in the 60, and he's fast." 800m meet record One of the most remarkable races of the day was the 1:45.35 victory by Khadevis Robinson in the men's 800 metres. A member of the US team at all international competitions since 2001, "K.D." found himself acting as his own pacesetter when no designated tempo-maker surfaced during the first lap. Passing the 400 metres in 52.3, Robinson showed unusual strength in finishing the race at virtually the same tempo to come within a second of his career best. "I like this track," he said afterwards. "I didn't feel good in the first lap, but I heard the crowd pushing me and that's what carried me through." Coached by a team of Dr. Frank Little and American record holder Johnny Gray, Robinson broke the 21-year-old meeting record of 1:46.10 by Sammy Koskei. "I think I was in better overall shape last year," said the 28-year-old, "but I never took the risk to 'go for it' like I have this year." Next up for Robinson is the Prefontaine Classic in early June. Wariner wins – not disappointed by time If the amount of pre-meet publicity were any indication, the biggest marquee athlete in attendance was Olympic 400 mtres champion Jeremy Wariner. The lean sprinter zipped around the stadium in 45.16, and his finish-line grimace was observed on the video screen as he glanced up to see his time. "Yeh, I wanted to break 45 today," he admitted. "But I'm not disappointed. It's only my third race of the year." It was also his first win of the year, after being bested twice by his former Baylor teammate Darold Williamson. "He knows me better than anyone else," Wariner pointed out. "He knows my weaknesses." "It's still early in the season for me. I didn't run indoors, so there are lots of things to work on," continued the 21-year-old. "My philosophy hasn't changed. I go the competitions with the same mentality of trying to win every race. I've just got to be patient." Wariner's upcoming appearances include the Adidas meeting in Carson in two weeks, plus competitions in Ostrava (IAAF SGP) and Lille (GP) before the US Championships in late June. Godina – 20.87 put John Godina scored a rather routine win in the Men's Shot Put off a 20.87 initial throw. The three-time World champion had to survive a final-round 20.75 PB by Dan Taylor, who also has an indoor 21.33 in his resumé. Reigning World Indoor champion Christian Cantwell (20.68) and Jamie Beyer (20.42) completed the quartet of throwers over twenty metres. With a youthful eye on 2012 Bahamian Olympian Jackie Edwards won the Women's Long Jump in a countback at 6.53m with Akiba McKinney. But that wasn't the event's main interest for the spectators. Resting in an undistinguished eleventh (and last) place was Ciarra Brewer with 5.31. Ordinarily this would be an item easy to forget, except for the fact Ciarra is only eleven years old. The young athlete from nearby Union City had jumped nearly 5.50 earlier this season at a youth competition without certified officials and a wind gauge. A representative of her youth club requested a spot in the elite women's event, and Modesto meeting officials agreed. Jumping for the first time with senior athletes, and although having only three attempts - since only the top eight would be advanced to the three final rounds - Brewer opened with a 5.31, almost matched it with 5.29 on her second jump, and then closed with another 5.31, all three wind-legal. Add Brewer to the list of keenly interested observers when the IOC convenes in July to select the site of the 2012 Olympics. The winning city could also be the place she introduces herself to the world. Ed Gordon for the IAAF Full Results: http://www.sml1.com/recordtiming//modesto/nc_mod05/ ENDS
