Posted: April 19, 2006

Athletics: Rogowska V. Pyrek In Ostrava Pole Vault

By Bob Ramsak
© 2006 TRACK PROFILE Report, all rights reserved

The Polish pole vaulting duo of Anna Rogowska and Monika Pyrek, the world indoor and world outdoor silver medallists respectively, will continue their duel at the Golden Spike Grand Prix in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on May 30, organizers announced today.

Rogowska, also the reigning Olympic bronze medallist, has cleared 4.83 [15-10] outdoors to share the No. 3 spot on the all-time world list. Pyrek, the reigning world championships silver medallist, has an outdoor best of 4.72[15-5 ¾], but has a 4.76 [15-7 ¼] clearance to her credit indoors.

“I want to attack 4.90 [16- ¾] this summer,” said Rogowska, who will celebrate her 25th birthday one week prior to the competition, her first of the outdoor season. Currently training in Formia, Italy, after a training stint in South Africa, Rogowska confirmed that a minor Achilles problem that shadowed her indoors is now healed, and that she expects good things this summer.

“I am often asked about five meters [16-4 ¾]. I think I will be able to do it, but I don’t know when. For Ostrava, I hope to be able to attack the meet record which would also mean a Polish record.”

The meet record of 4.83 [15-10] was set by American Stacy Dragila in 2004, still the U.S. national record.

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Organizers reportedly extended an invitation to world and Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva, the only woman to have bettered five metres. The Russian reportedly declined, citing conflicts with her training program which precludes any competitive appearances before July.

The field will also include Czech Pavla Hamackova, who leaped to bronze at last summer’s world championships, and Russian Tatyana Polnova, who has bettered 4.78 [15-8 ¼] outdoors.

Organizers also confirmed that Dorcus Inzikuru of Uganda, the reigning world champion in the 3000 meter steeplechase, will return to the eastern Czech city. Inzikuru, the African record holder (9:15.04) in the event, finished second in her previous two appearances in Ostrava. In 2002, Alesya Turova of Belarus set a world record in the Ostrava competition, clocking 9:21.72. The current world record, 9:01.59, was set by Russian Gulnara Samitova in Heraklion, Greece, in 2004.

Organizers also announced that the men’s 200 event will be held in honor of recently deceased IAAF General Secretary Istvan Gyulai of Hungary. Gyulai, who died in March after a long illness, competed in Ostrava during his days as an athlete and was an enthusiastic supporter of the meet. This year, The Golden Spike, celebrating its 45th edition, is the only World Athletics Tour competition in Eastern Europe. The meet record of 20.30 was set by American Justin Gatlin in 2004, two months prior to his Olympic 100 meter victory.

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