WIC - Men's Pole Vault

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-w ... pole-vault

MEN'S POLE VAULT PREVIEW – IAAF WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS SOPOT 2014

An ill-timed injury after his world indoor record of 6.16m in Donetsk means that France’s Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie is not able to defend his title won in Istanbul.

Raphael Holzdeppe and Bjorn Otto, the Germans who joined the French star on the podium at the World Championships last year as well as at the Olympic Games and European Championships in 2012, will also be missing from Sopot.

So who can grasp the hand of opportunity?

Malte Mohr is the most likely candidate. The German cleared 5.84m to win his national title in Leipzig just over a week ago and then improved to an indoor PB of 5.90m in Berlin on Saturday.

Home hope Pawel Wojciechowski, the 2011 world outdoor champion, is finally regaining form following injury. Look out also for Luke Cutts, the new British record-holder with a mark of 5.83m, and Brazil’s rapidly improving 2012 world junior champion Thiago Braz.

Simon Turnbull for the IAAF

[wtfisup]

Never has there been a more anticipated Indoor World championship than those taking place on upon the seaside town of Eastern Pomerania (or #Sopot to layman folk). Who will take advantage of the wild card event..?

Will it be "Lucky Luke Mother of Cutts" ? This guy knows how to party, and since laying off the fish and chips this year his potential and freakish strength has begun to shine through the pints that made this kid a legend.

Thiago Braz'... get that thought out of your head. This guy is coming off a redeye flight and a 5 day bender in Carnival. He's been knee deep in beads and feathers for the last 5 days. But that just might be his lucky ticket.

Malte "I only want MOHRRR" seems to have his brats cooking in a line and his steiners full. This is a booky's pick that's going to leave the polish teenies screaming MOHHR. This guy has had enough of the "german backseat" (not a sexual term) and is taking the reins of this Horse and Donkey show (laymans term for Rodeo).

The biggest wild card is also the hometown favorite. They don't call him the "Wojo Mojo" for nothing. Pawel plans to ride in on a white horse handed down to him by none other than Władysław Gomułka as a token of his great courage. (even before he was born)
This kid can show up when it counts... Does this WIC count?

Should be a great games indeed my friend, a great games indeed.

[hardflex]

love the off the wall writeup, wtfsup .

Mohre seems to be a head above the rest and peaking at the right time, it would be hard to bet against him. But I'm watching to see which newbie steps up onto the world stage. With Renaud and the 2 Germans out it's a great opportunity for it.

[PVstorm84]

wtfisup you bring up some good analysis, but it seems you have forgotten about our little soakin-up-some-rays-all-baby-oiled-up friend down by the Mediterranean!

Konstantinos Fillipid-is he serious??? - famous for being able to string together 6 meets in 8 days within 3cm of his PB, you have to like him for his consistency. How DOES he do it?!? When the bar goes to 5.75m, I know who I like for a first attempt make, as long as that jawline doesn't get any bigger and knock the bar off.

[Wan]

My personal preview (this is not a forecast, of course !), and personal athlete's potentials, according to their season bests, personal bests, progressions and international events experiences :

1. Malte MOHR : 5.85 m (+)
2. Luke CUTTS : 5.80 m (-)
3. Pawel WOJCIECHOWSKI : 5.75 m (+) (allowing him a bonus for being a local vaulter in this event)
4. Konstadinos PHILIPPIDIS : 5.75 m (o)
5. Jérôme CLAVIER : 5.75 m (-)
6. Thiago BRAZ DA SILVA : 5.70 m (+) (but a feat for this young man and his "P/B style" is possible : not big experience at this level but a really great progression this year... could be on the podium)
7. Changrui XUE : 5.70 m (+)
8. Jan KUDLIKA : 5.70 m (+)
9. Robert SOBERA : 5.70 m (o) (allowing him a bonus for being a local vaulter in this event)
10. Kévin MENALDO : 5.70 m (o) (but a feat for this young man and his "Lavillenie style (if it exists)" is possible : not big experience at this level but a really great progression this year... could be in the first five)
11. Yancheng YANG : 5.70 (-)
12. Augusto DE OLIVEIRA : 5.55 (o)

[rainbowgirl28]

Live results are here: http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-w ... -4952/live

[golfdane]

The info on Thiago Braz is wrong. The brazilians are appearently using Malmö, Sweden, as home base. Probably to have easier access to good competitions for Thiago, Fabio Gomez Da Silva and Fabiana around Europe.

http://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-world-indoor-championships/iaaf-world-indoor-championships-2014-4952/results/men/pole-vault/final/series#resultheader

It's been a while since I've seen someone as dissapointed as Mohr. 3 men at 5.80. Filippidis winning on clearing 5.80 first attempt.

One interesting jumper: Xue! Had some huge clearences, but a bit unstable.

[Wan]

One interesting jumper: Xue! Had some huge clearences, but a bit unstable.

Training with Inocienco, former trainer of Lavillenie...

[hardflex]

Suntanning in Greece must be a good way to train lol.

Braz just 20 years old in 4th, that's danged impressive ! And Xue for 5th both 5.75

anyone seen any video of the competition?

[PVstorm84]

hardflex i saw the video live and let me tell you how it went down...

Malte had his long locks flowing like the mighty Rhein over 5.80 but then ran out of steam. My guess is the saurkraut ran dry in the stadium and he packed up his poles in protest.

Kudlicka wasn't a favorite but he Czech'd into the competition with a proverbial chip on his proverbial shoulder and wrapped himself like a babe in a blanket around a new PB.

Filipidis the cheater came from the banked track in lane three with the power of LAV 20 step approach and refused to miss... it was like he somehow just had a bit more horsepower than everyone! Now back to the beaches of the greek islands for a nice 3.5 days off before his next competition and national record.

Big surprise was BLC - Big Luke Cutts with a scorecard dirtier than his local tattoo joint bowing out at 5.75.

The Brazilians both looked to have the power of Rio street beats behind them early, but couldn't get in the mix for a medal. The feed cut out just as they began a dance party on the track anyway.