France’s Renaud Lavillenie displayed all his experience to bag a “crazy” third world indoor pole vault title on Sunday as Briton Andrew Pozzi hailed the late Roger Bannister as the inspiration behind his hurdles triumph.
In a bold show of gamesmanship, the Frenchman came into the competition at 5.70 metres — which six of the 15-strong field failed to make -- passed at 5.80 and went clear at 5.85 and 5.90 after one failure at the latter.
“The competition was very long and very intense as you can see with seven athletes trying to jump 5.90m. To be able to secure one more gold medal in the world championships is a crazy feeling,” said Lavillenie.
American Sam Hendricks (5.85) eventually took silver from Poland’s Piotr Lisek on countback as a host of rivals fell by the wayside.
Fittingly on the day Bannister died aged 88, British team captain Pozzi said his victory in the 60m hurdles had been inspired by the first man to run a mile in under four minutes.
“Roger Bannister was an unbelievable athlete and unbelievable person,” said Pozzi, whose winning 7.46s edged American Jarret Eaton to silver.
In a slow tactical race, Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha produced a devastating last-lap spurt to defend his 3000m title with some ease, the 20-year-old crossing the line in 8:14.41 ahead of teenage teammate Selemon Barega.
There was no holding back in the women’s 800m as Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba also successfully defended her title in 1:58.31, the fastest time this season.
The results:
Men: 60m hurdles: 1 Andrew Pozzi (GBr) 7.46s, 2. Jarret Eaton (USA) 7.47, 3. Aurel Manga (Fra) 7.54; 1500m: 1. Samuel Tefera (Eth) 3:58.19s, 2. Marcin Lewandowski (Pol) 3:58.39, 3 Abdelaati Iguider (Mar) 3:58.43; 3000m: 1. Yomif Kejelcha (Eth) 8:14.41, 2. Selemon Barega (Eth) 8:15.59, 3. Bethwell Kiprotich Birgen (Ken) 8:15.70; 4x400m: 1. Poland 3:01.77, 2. USA 3:01.97, 3. Belgium 3:02.51; Pole vault: 1. Renaud Lavillenie (Fra) 5.90m, 2. Sam Kendricks (USA) 5.85, 3. Piotr Lisek (Pol) 5.85.
Women: 800m: 1. Francine Niyonsaba (Bdi) 1:58.31, 2. Ajee Wilson (USA) 1:58.99, 3. Shelayna Oskan-Clarke (GBr) 1:59.81; 4x400m: 1. USA 3:23.85, 2. Poland 3:26.09, 3. Great Britain 3:29.38; Long jump: 1. Ivana Spanovic (Srb) 6.96m, 2. Brittney Reese (USA) 6.89, 3. Sosthene Moguenara-Tarou (Ger) 6.85 .
