Athletics World ChampionshipsSomeone finally turned up the heat in Helsinki yesterday, and the World Championships finally got the night of athletics they deserved. Yelena Isinbayeva was such an overwhelming favourite in the pole vault that only a world record would satisfy her and the crowd - and that's what they got.
The 23-year-old Russian, who admits talking to her pole before she vaults, cleared 5.01 metres, adding one centimetre to her previous mark. It earned her a bonus of $100,000 to go with the $60,000 prize of her first world title, and she's clearly not finished yet such was the ease with which she cleared it.
Incredibly it's her 18th world record in just over two years, including indoor marks.
"This record is for all of you," Isinbayeva told the crowd with typical gusto, no doubt thankful the weather finally improved. And the former gymnast was in a class of her own throughout; Monika Pyrek of Poland was next best, with a height of 4.60.
Another athlete happy with the fine weather was Jeremy Wariner. The 21-year-old Texan almost shivered his way through the opening rounds of the 400 metres this week but responded to the warmer air last night, scorching around the track in a lifetime best of 43.93 seconds to secure his first world title.
It was another awesome display of sprinting power, just like Wariner produced in the Athens Olympics last year. Fellow American Andrew Rock also ran a lifetime best, 44.35, to win silver, with Tyler Christopher setting a Canadian record of 44.44 in third.
Wariner's win almost completes his succession of his mentor Michael Johnson, who set a world record of 43.18 when winning his fourth world title in 1999. Wariner has already taken Johnson's Olympic title and now eyes that world record.
"Yeah, I think I executed it real well," he said. "I just did what Michael told me to do. Hopefully I can now get down to the world record sooner or later."
Wariner was one of five new champions crowned last night.
In the 110-metre hurdles, Ladji Doucoure of France edged out the Olympic champion, Xiang Liu of China, 13.07 to 13.08. The veteran American and four-time winner Allen Johnson, now aged 34, took third in 13.10.
The youngest new champion was America's Allyson Felix, who at 19 finished fastest in the 200 metres and took the win in 22.16 seconds. Christine Arron of France, 12 years her elder, came close to winning her first title but saw her hopes of gold turn to bronze on the line, clocking 22.31.
Russia's hammer thrower Olga Kuzenkova had won silver in the past three championships and finally won gold aged 34 with her best throw of 75.10 metres.
But not all went to plan for some other favourites. The US 100-metre relay team won't be defending their title after Mardy Scales failed to get the baton to Leonard Scott after the first leg. Waiting down the track was Maurice Greene, the former double champion, who thus leaves Helsinki without competing.
