http://www.iaaf.org/WIC06/news/Kind=2/newsId=33277.html
Walker and Stuczynski top Pole Vault Summit
Saturday 28 January 2006
Reno, USA - Brad Walker and Jennifer Stuczynski, the new faces of American pole vaulting, picked off where they left off in 2005 in the 16th annual National Pole Vault Summit at the Reno Hilton on Friday, 27 January.
Walker, the Helsinki World Championship silver medallist, defended his title at 5.60m over Toby Stevenson. Stuczynski, the 2005 USA Track & Field Indoor champion, won the women’s competition at 4.55m over Jillian Schwartz.
Brad Walker approaches the bar in Reno - he won with 5.60m
(Kirby Lee - The Sporting Image)
MEN - Walker’s first time clearances count
Amid blaring rock music in the meet held on a hotel theatre stage with the men’s and women’s competition taking place on a intersecting runways, Walker needed only five jumps to win over Toby Stevenson at 5.60m on fewer misses, in what was a low key competition in comparison to previous years.
Walker, who is currently the IAAF World Ranked number one for the event, cleared 5.50m and 5.60m on his first attempts with Stevenson scaling both heights on his second try. Both then missed three times at 5.80m. Jeff Hartwig and 2000 Olympic champion Nick Hysong tied for third at 5.50m.
Breakthrough year in 2005
Walker, 24, won last year’s Pole Vault Summit in a then personal-best 5.83m to kick off his first full professional season after completing his collegiate eligibility at the University of Washington where he was a two-time NCAA indoor champion.
Walker won the 2005 USATF indoor and outdoor titles and posted wins in Paris, Sheffield and Rieti last summer. In Rieti, Walker moved into sixth place on the all-time U.S. list with a 5.96m clearance.
“It was an incredible year and a breakthrough year and I am excited to be where I am at as quickly as I have been,â€Â