Hooker scales 6.01m, scares World record in New York's Millrose Games

New York, USA - Olympic Pole Vault gold medallist Steve Hooker started his American tour nicely with a 6.01m clearance, then made three solid attempts at a World Record height of 6.16m at the 102nd running of the Millrose Games in New York on Friday (30) night.

Hooker, vaulting early in the meet order at Madison Square Garden, disposed of Derek Miles with a third-attempt clearance at 5.88m after both vaulters passed at 5.80m. Hooker had no misses until 5.88, but when he put the bar up to 6.01m he cleared easily on his first attempt.

6.01m makes Hooker the fourth-highest vaulter of all time indoors, and he not only set facility and event records but took the American all-comers record, a mark formerly held by the great Sergey Bubka.

Hooker – ‘Definitely an encouraging way to start my season’

Hooker was more interested in his three attempts at 6.16m, though, and definitely excited by the possibilities, particularly considering that he claimed only one full run-up in the weeks before the competition.

"I broke a pole at a short-approach competition in Perth four weeks ago," explained Hooker, and injured himself on the broken pieces as he came down. "I'm fine accelerating and jumping but slowing down really hurts, so I was warming up by rolling in to the pit."

"Having such good jumps at the World Record was surprising. It's the first time I've attempted a World Record. Hopefully there will be more in the coming weeks. I'm not going to get ahead of myself, but definitely it's an encouraging way to start my season. The last jump in particular was really good, if I'd used a bigger pole."

With 4.71m world leader, Stuczynski breaks her ‘Millrose Curse’

Olympic silver medallist Jennifer Stuczynski, tabbed as the challenger to Pole Vault empress Yelena Isinbayeva for several years now, bested a challenge of her own by winning that event in her fourth try. Stuczynski was favored for the win in each of the previous three years here but had finished second, fourth, and second. This time, with a 4.71m clearance, outdoor national record holder Stuczynski bested Stacy Dragila, who cleared 4.61m. It was Dragila's highest clearance since she set the American indoor record of 4.81m in 2004.

With the win in hand, Stuczynski attempted 4.82m, which would have bettered Dragila's record, before taking her bows.