Isinbayeva survives a major scare to reach World Indoors final

From David Jordan, Sportsbeat, in Doha

 WORLD record holder and three-time defending champion Yelena Isinbayeva survived a major scare to book her place in the pole vault final at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Doha.

SCARE: Yelena Isinbayeva edged into the women's pole vault final at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Doha (Getty Images)

The Russian two-time Olympic champion passed on each height until 4.55m and failed to clear her first two attempts before her quality shone through, ensuring she advanced to Sunday's final.

Having failed at her first two attempts, memories of the World Championships in Berlin came gushing back after Isinbayeva failed to register a single height as gold went to Anna Rogowska of Poland.

"Nothing major happened, it was just the waiting and waiting," she said. "First I did not expect that the other jumpers would qualify so early, and I was waiting for 4.60m. So it was earlier than I expected."

Rogowska also sealed her place in the final with a clearance of 4.45m, as did Fabiana Murer of Brazil.

There was no such luck for British record holder Kate Dennison however, as she could only manage a best clearance of 4.35m - well down on her personal best of 4.60m.

She finished ninth, one place below to qualifiers and would have advanced had she not failed at her first attempt at 4.20m.

"It was so frustrating because I missed out by such a small margin," admitted Dennison. "If I had made my first attempt at 4.20m then I would be through now in joint eighth.

"It is annoying but I'll go back and I'll learn from this and I'll try and make amends in the summer."

 

In the men's high jump, it was Russian duo Ivan Ukhov and Yaroslav Rybakov who led the way in qualifying as both cleared 2.29m.

Great Britain's Samson Oni followed close behind, finishing third, having cleared both 2.23m and 2.26m at his first attempts. However, compatriot Tom Parsons crashed out on a count back despite clearing 2.26m.

 

"I think the difference out there today was between people who were mentally tough enough to get by and those who weren't," said Oni.

"I enjoyed it tremendously and I knew I was jumping well so I'm pleased I could prove that to myself.

"There are a lot of jumpers out there who have the ability to be in the final and there are lots of people in the final who I think I can beat; so we will wait and see."

And in the men's long jump there was more disappointment for Great Britain as both national champion Greg Rutherford and 2008 silver medallist Chris Tomlinson failed to reach the final.

Rutherford could only manage a longest jump of 7.80 while Tomlinson's best was 7.75m as both came up short of the 7.89m necessary to qualify.

Australia's Fabrice LaPierre produced the jump of the day, launching out to 8.19m while compatriot Mitchell Watt leapt out to 8.00m and defending champion Godfrey Mokoena safely advanced.

"I'm involved in a long-term project to make me a better technical long jumper so I was here to improve rather than to challenge to medals," said Rutherford.

"I'm learning all the time and there were little pieces that came off and worked well so I have that to work on.

"It has always been about the European Championships for me and that hasn't changed."

Aviva has been proud to have helped and supported the Aviva GB & NI junior, senior and disability teams as they prepare for all major events and championships since 1999. Visit www.aviva.co.uk/athletics for more information