The women's pole vault field will be trying to pull of a huge upset by taking down world record holder and Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva in Berlin. The Russian was on fire indoors this year, setting a new world indoor record at 5.00m (16'5") back in February. But the outdoor season has been less kind to Isinbayeva, culminating in an insanely rare loss in Crystal Palace just a few weeks before the World Championships. But it's hard to disagree with the great champion when she says, "Usually I am very good about getting myself together when it counts the most." Her loss came in a non-Golden League jackpot event and she'll certainly use it as motivation to get it right in Berlin.
Isinbayeva's outdoor best is a world-leading 4.85m, which she jumped in the Golden League meeting in Rome. She is still in contention for the Golden League jackpot with 4 straight wins, but rivals Monika Pyrek and Anna Rogowska of Poland have given her some close calls this summer. Rogowska defeated Isinbayeva in London and is an Olympic bronze medalist.
American Olympic silver medalist Jenn Stuczynski of Rochester, New York could be a major threat to Isinbayeva. Stuczynski, however, has not competed since winning the United States Championships back in late June. We hope to learn more about Jenn S's condition as the competition date nears. All summer, as we have watched Isinbayeva win but struggle doing so, we've wished a healthy Jenn S. would have been there to give Isinbayeva the best competition possible.
Breaking news: Stuczynski has withdrawn with an Achilles injury. She will be replaced on the USA team by 7-time USA WC and Olympics team member Jillian Schwartz, whose top finish in global competetion was 4th in the 2004 World Indoors.
LRC Predictions: Gold: Yelena Isinbayeva RUS Silver:Jenn Stuczynski USA Bronze: Monika Pyrek POL 4th: Anna Rogowska POL
Women's Pole Vault Statistics By LRC Coaching Guru John Kellogg
4.85 Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS) PR 5.05 (WR) (2008) Gold medal in 2008 Olympic Games, gold medal in 2008 World Indoor Championships, gold medal in 2007 World Championships, gold medal in 2006 World Indoor Championships, gold medal in 2005 World Championships, gold medal in 2004 Olympic Games, gold medal in 2004 World Indoor Championships, silver medal in 2003 World Indoor Championships, bronze medal in 2003 World Championships, gold medal in 2006 World Cup, 7th in 2001 World Championships
4.82 Fabiana Murer (BRA) (= #6 all-time) Bronze medal in 2008 World Indoor Championships, silver medal in 2006 World Cup, 6th in 2007 World Championships, 10th in 2008 Olympic Games
4.81 Jenn Stuczynski (USA)+ PR 4.92 (AR, #2 all-time) (2008) Silver medal in 2008 Olympic Games, silver medal in 2008 World Indoor Championships, 10th in 2007 World Championships
4.80 Anna Rogowska (POL) PR 4.83 (= #4 all-time) (2005) Silver medal in 2006 World Indoor Championships, bronze medal in 2004 Olympic Games, 6th in 2003 World Indoor Championships, 6th in 2005 World Championships, 7th in 2004 World Indoor Championships, 7th in 2003 World Championships, 8th in 2007 World Championships, 10th in 2008 Olympic Games
4.78 Monika Pyrek (POL) PR 4.82 (= #6 all-time) (2007) Silver medal in 2005 World Championships, bronze medal in 2008 World Indoor Championships, bronze medal in 2003 World Indoor Championships, bronze medal in 2001 World Championships, 4th in 2007 World Championships, 4th in 2006 World Indoor Championships, 4th in 2004 Olympic Games, 4th in 2003 World Championships, 5th in 2008 Olympic Games, 5th in 2004 World Indoor Championships, 7th in 2000 Olympic Games, 11th in 1999 World Indoor Championships, 5th in 2006 World Cup
4.70 Yuliya Golubchikova (RUS) PR 4.75i (= #9 all-time) (2008) 4th in 2008 Olympic Games, 6th in 2007 World Championships
4.70 Svetlana Feofanova (RUS) PR 4.88 (#3 all-time) (2004) Gold medal in 2003 World Championships, gold medal in 2003 World Indoor Championships, silver medal in 2004 Olympic Games, silver medal in 2001 World Championships, silver medal in 2001 World Indoor Championships, bronze medal in 2008 Olympic Games, bronze medal in 2007 World Championships, bronze medal in 2006 World Indoor Championships, bronze medal in 2004 World Indoor Championships, 5th in 2008 World Indoor Championships, silver medal in 2002 World Cup
4.70 Silke Speigelburg (GER) PR 4.75i (= #9 all-time) (2009) 7th in 2008 Olympic Games, 8th in 2006 World Indoor Championships, 13th in 2004 Olympic Games
4.68 Anna Battke (GER) 8th in 2008 World Indoor Championships
4.65 Aleksandra Kiryashova (RUS)
4.60 Chelsea Johnson (USA) PR 4.72 (= #3 all-time USA) (2008)
4.56 Tatyana Polonova (RUS) PR 4.78 (#7 all-time) (2004) 4th in 2005 World Championships, 9th in 2007 World Championships
4.55 Stacy Dragila (USA) PR 4.83 (= #4 all-time, #2 all-time USA) (2004) Gold medal in 2000 Olympic Games, gold medal in 2001 World Championships, gold medal in 1999 World Championships, gold medal in 1997 World Indoor Championships, silver medal in 2004 World Indoor Championships, 4th in 2003 World Championships, 4th in 2001 World Indoor Championships, 8th in 1999 World Indoor Championships
4.55 Jillian Schwatrz (USA) PR 4.72i (= #3 all-time USA) (2008) 4th in 2004 World Indoor Championships, 11th in 2005 World Championships
+ = Not on Worlds Team in PV
