PoleVaultPower.com

Well it looks like I will be in the backyard coaching during the women's pole vault, but you can get almost live updates from Ken Stone's great weblog

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/olympics/weblog/

Women's vault: Watch Dragila


Pole vault introductions over, and the lines into Hornet Stadium are very long -- nearly a quarter-mile in one spot. It's very hot -- 92 at the airport, maybe 95 here. Opening height for 13 of 14 jumpers is 13-9 1/4 (4.20). Only Olympic champ Stacy Dragila is passing this height. Ten of 13 clear on first try, including Rancho Bernardo High alum Tracy O'Hara. In 1995, 4.20 was the world record.

After two tries, everyone is over but Becky Holliday. Despite crowd's rhythmic clapping, she misses third try.

Recording of national anthem is played as Sacramento Police Deartment honor guard stands straight in the heat. Bar goes to 14-1 1/4 (4.30), with Dragila, Amy Linnen and Andrea Dutoit passing. O'Hara is third over 4.30 on first try.

Alicia Warlick passes 4.30. Elizabeth Metzinger is out after three misses. Kira Sims goes up and bails out under bar for her third miss. Everyone else is over or passes.
Posted by Ken Stone at July 18, 2004 02:36 PM

Women's pole vault update

Four women over 14-5 1/4 (4.40), including O'Hara, and Dragila, who cleared opener 4.35 easily at 3:17 p.m. -- 47 minutes after jumping commenced. Kellie Suttle's pole snaps in two in try at 4.40. She later clears. Chelsea Johnson clears 4.40 on third try. Bar goes to 14-7 1/4 (4.45) with about seven women over. Six high jumpers over 7-4 1/3 (2.24).

Dragila over 4.45 easily on first try, gets big cheer. O'Hara over on first try at 4.45. April Steiner also over 4.45 with no misses. Sauer passes after one miss. Kellie Suttle over 4.45 on second try.

Sauer is one of eight jumpers at 14-9 (4.50), misses on first try. Dragila passes 4.50. Schwartz over 4.50. O'Hara misses first, second tries. Johnson over 4.50 on first try. Steiner misses badly. Sauer misses -- she's out of competition. Warlick misses -- she's out. Suttle passes last two tries at 4.50.
Posted by Ken Stone at July 18, 2004 03:36 PM

Women's vault: Bar goes to 14-11


O'Hara passes last try at 4.50. Dragila is first to jump at 4.55 (14-11). She skies it -- big cheer. Men's 1500 runners come out onto track at 4:24 p.m. Schwartz over 4.55. O'Hara is up for her one attempt at this height -- close miss. Suttle is over 4.55, acts a little shocked, putting hands to her face. Johnson misses first try at 4.55 -- and passes last two attempts. Steiner barely misses.
Posted by Ken Stone at 04:22 PM

Dragila alone going at 15-3


Dragila is first up for try at 4.65 (15-3). Peter Uebberoth and Bob Schul, among others, presenting awards to Webb and the other 1500 medalists. Hemingway misses at 7-8 3/4 (2.36). Dragila waits for ceremony to end. She's over, but bar falls off. Nieto going for 7-10 3/4 (2.41) -- a new American record. Webb says: "I've been waiting for this moment my entire life ... since seventh grade." Wears T-shirt from sister that repeats that notion. Announcer says Schwartz is second and Suttle third -- team set! Dragila over 15-3, new Trials record. Nieto misses badly at 2.41. He scratches last two attempts.
Posted by Ken Stone at 04:46 PM |

Dragila has bar set at 15-7


All alone now, Dragila goes for history. First step -- an intermediate height she's easily done in the past. It's 15-7 (4.75 meters). Dragila misses first two tries. At 5:07 p.m. , rhthmic clapping begins for last Dragila attempt. A pause, and then clapping starts again. Over! Crowd goes crazy.
Posted by Ken Stone at 04:56 PM

Dragila going for it! World record


Bar is being set at 4.89 -- 16-0 1/2. On second try Dragila -- barely misses.
Posted by Ken Stone at 05:11 PM

Women's 100 hurdles final


Sweetwater High's Gail Devers, two-time 100-meter Olympic champion, has yet to win a gold in her best event. Devers is first! Joanna Hayes also timed in 12.55. Third to Melissa Morrison in 12.61. Dragila misses third try. Finish between Hayes and Devers (her 10th national title) is so close that scoreboard doesn't show result for about a minute -- felt like an hour.
Posted by Ken Stone at 05:23 PM