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Evgeniy Lukyanenko, who recently cleared six meters for the first time (6.01), having already won the competition, tried to set a new Russian championship record, but all three of his attempts at 6.06 were profoundly unsuccessful.

AllSport.ru wrote:00:43 19.07.2008 - Athletics - Russian Championships of Light Athletics-2008
Svetlana Feofanova: I am in form, but my peak is an abstract concept
Yesterday, June 18th, on the second day of the Russian Championships of Light Athletics in Kazan, former world record holder in the women’s pole vault Svetlana Feofanova won the competition with a result of 4.70, and thus won her third trip to the Olympics. Svetlana Feofanova shared impressions from her performance with the special correspondents of the Agency of Sport Information "All Sport".

"I was a little bit nervous in the Final," admitted Svetlana Feofanova. "The wind wasn't helpful for us, to put it mildly. It would've been better to be running in the opposite direction, then the wind would be behind us. It’s interesting that before the start they asked which way the pit should be set up. We asked for downwind, but they still did it their own way. But the floodlights are here, which I was told would be lit later, though I haven't even seen them yet. I didn't even try to jump 4.80. The time expired on two attempts while I waited for the wind. I still have two more starts before the Olympics - in Monaco and London on the 25th and 29th of July. Yes, I am in form, but my peak is an abstract concept. Last year I started jumping on July 7th and finished on October 3rd. I began the season with a height of 4.71 and finished at 4.70-4.75. Where was my peak form? It came out that I spent four months jumping all at the same level."

Svetlana Feofanova also vividly described the conditions under which the athletes are living in Kazan. "Outwardly the hotel looks modern. But in my room I have no cold water, and I have no idea where to wash. And a killed cockroach is imprinted on the wall."

AllSport.ru wrote:21:00 19.07.2008 - Athletics - Russian Championships of Light Athletics-2008
Yevgeny Lukyanenko: The Russian record – this is my plan for the overall season
Today, July 19th, the 2008 indoor world pole vault champion, Yevgeny Lukyanenko predictably won the Russian championship with a jump of 5.85, then tried to set a Russian record at 6.06. Yevgeny Lukyanenko described why this attempt failed to the special correspondents of the Agency of Sport Information "All Sport".

"Yes, despite the fact that the wind had risen, I decided to try to beat the Russian record, so why not?" asked Yevgeny Lukyanenko rhetorically. "In the end, the conditions are the same for everyone. And suppose we have the same weather at the Olympics? Today we were asked which way would be better to place the pit. All told, it's better opposite the sun, so the organizers did it that way. Therefore I was comfortable jumping and no special difficulties came up. Thankfully it didn't rain or snow (laughing). However I got tired and wasn't able to catch the wind, so on two attempts I just ran through. 6.06 and higher is my plan not only for the Russian championships, but also for the season. Whether I can break the Russian record in Beijing – we'll see, but it's likely the battle there will take place at six meters. But it's difficult to say just who will be fighting for the awards."