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Sports

Monday February 23, 2009

Yelena off the mark

BIRMINGHAM: Russia’s Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva missed out on a 27th world record at the Bir­mingham Indoor meeting on Saturday.

Isinbayeva had set seven world records in the UK and was hoping to improve upon the 5m indoor record she set in Donetsk in Ukraine last weekend.

The World Athlete of the Year cleared 4.82m at the second attempt to win the competition easily, but failed with all three attempts at 5.01m.

Error-free run: American Lolo Jones waves to the crowd after winning the women's 60m hurdles at the Birmingham Indoor meeting on Saturday.-AFP

“From the beginning I didn’t feel so fresh because I was still tried from jumping in Donetsk,” said Isinbayeva.

America’s Lolo Jones equalled her world season lead of 7.82 seconds, which she set last weekend in Karlsruhe, with a confident 60m hurdles victory.

The world indoor champion, whose Olympic dreams were shattered last year when she crashed into a hurdle, led from the start with Cuba’s world indoor bronze medallist Anay Tejeda the nearest to the American in a time of 8.00.

“There are still one or two things I can see that need tightening up,” confirmed Jones. “It’s good though because I can see there’s room for improvement.”

American compatriot Carmelita Jeter, who was a late arrival in Birmingham and had only three hours’ sleep, blasted to a world season lead and personal best of 7.11 seconds for the 60m.

The 29-year-old Jeter was never pressed by a field which included veteran Chandra Sturrup, who was third in 7.20, and reigning world indoor champion Angela Williams who clocked 7.23 for fourth place.

Tahesia Harrigan was second in 7.18.

Britain’s Olympic 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu was pleasantly surprised to win the 200m in 23.42, just overtaking veteran Donna Fraser on the line.

“I’m shocked because I hadn’t been training for this, it was just a matter of coming out and supporting the sport,” said Ohuruogu, who is not competing at the European Championships in Turin next month.

“Coming here I’ve given up two weeks of training and everything is focused on the outdoors but it’s been good to come here. Birmingham is always one of the best grand prix and it’s good to give something back to the fans.” — AFP

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