Markov wins pole vaulting gold

For the first time in world championships history the men's pole vault title went to a nation that is not a former Soviet Union country.
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Dragila defends pole vault title
MATCHUP
Men's: Ex-Soviets could lose grip on men's title
Women's: Dragila rarely lets ink dry in record book

Women's Athlete Height Stacy Dragila (USA) 4.75 metres Svetlana Feofanova (RUS) 4.75 metres Monica Pyrek (POL) 4.55 metres Men's Athlete Height Dmitri Markov (AUS) 6.05 metres (CR) Averbukh Aleksandr (ISR) 5.85 metres Nick Hysong (USA) 5.85 metres

Men's "This is very wide open -- a lot of these guys are clumped between 5.80 and 5.90 metres. Jeff Hartwig is always among the best and he'll be up there, but no one really stands out, although Lawrence Johnson is on a roll and really hungry to win after missing out on the Olympics last year." Women's "Dragila has been by far the most consistent and the highest this year. It's hers to lose, but if anyone could beat her, it would be Feoforova. But Dragila has been vaulting with so much confidence and she's the class of the field." -- Michael Smith

MEN Athlete Height Venue - Year World Sergei Bubka (UKR) 6.14m Sestriere - 1994 Canadian Douglas Wood 5.61 Papendal - 1991 Year's Best Dmitriy Markov (AUS) 5.95 Monaco - July 20 WOMEN Athlete Height Venue - Year World Stacy Dragila (USA) 4.81m Palo Alto - 2001 Canadian Stephanie McCann 4.20 Los Angeles - 2001 Year's Best Stacy Dragila (USA) 4.81 Palo Alto - June 9

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Mon., Aug. 6 7 - 10pm ET Women's FINAL 8 - 10 p.m. Men's round 2 Thur., Aug. 9 8 - 10pm Men's FINAL

Stacy Dragila (USA) Lawrence Johnson (USA) Rob Pike (CAN) Stephanie McCann (CAN)

It's probably not a surprise that most pole vaulters will tell you mental sharpness is as much a part of the event as strength and speed. more