Women's Pole Vault qualification

Prior to this morning’s qualification round in the women’s Pole Vault, the only question seemed to be: At what height would reigning Olympic champion and World record holder Yelena Isinbayeva enter the competition?

Predictably, the Russian star and one of the biggest favourites of the games entered the competition very late, made a brief appearance with a lone leap, repacked her bags, put on her cap, and left.

“I waited for a long time,” Isinbayeva said after her first attempt clearance at 4.60m, “but I don’t mind. I can get into the final at my first attempt.”

Yet again the expectations on Isinbayeva are great after she broke a three-year silence in World record breaking with two new global standards this summer, first with a 5.03m leap in Rome, and than a 5.04m effort in Monaco in her last pre-Beijing appearance. But she doesn’t apparently mind those expectations.

“My goal is to break my World record. I feel good and confident. My consistency and strong mind make me keep trying to break my own records.”

Isinbayeva is no stranger to setting records on a big stage. Her 4.91m Olympic record from Athens four years ago was a World record at the time, one of 23 – 13 outdoors and 10 indoors – that she has set.

Isinbayeva was the only woman who attempted 4.60m, designated as the automatic qualifier, as the field was already decided after the bar was raised from 4.50.

When the event made its Olympic debut in Sydney eight years ago, Vala Flosadottir of Iceland took the bronze with a leap of 4.50m. Today, that was the standard needed to advance to Monday evening’s final (18).

American record holder Jenn Stuczynki, who become history’s No. 2 vaulter with her 4.92m leap in Eugene in June, made her morning visit to the Bird’s Nest a short one, jumping and clearing 4.50m with her first attempt. The American is seen as the only real threat to knock Isinbayeva off the top step of the podium, but up to this point, she still appears several steps away from bridging the wide gap that still separates the two.

Three others had a perfect slate on the morning, essentially using the round to test the facilities and conditions. Brazil’s Fabiana Murer (4.80m this season) made a pair of leaps – 4.40 and 4.50 – before packing it in; French woman Vanessa Boslak worked her way up from 4.15 to 4.50 without a miss; while Shuying Gao stirred the enthusiastic crowd with her successful leaps at 4.30, 4.40 and 4.50.

Others moving on include vaulting Poles Monika Pyrek and Anna Rogowska, the reigning Olympic bronze medallist; Russians Yuliya Golubchikova and Svetlana Feofanova, the reigning Olympic silver medallist; and a pair of Germans, Carolin Hingst and Silke Spiegelburg. American April Steiner will also join compatriot Stuczynski.

Bob Ramsak for the IAAF