Yelena opens with record
2006-02-12 20:53
Donetsk, Ukraine - Russia's Yelena Isinbayeva broke her own indoor world record in the women's pole vault on Sunday, clearing 4.91m at the "Pole Vault Stars" event.
In her first competition of the season, the 23-year-old Olympic champion bettered her previous record of 4.90m, set at the European Indoor Championships in Madrid last spring.
Isinbayeva, who also holds the outdoor record of 5.01 meters she set at the world championships at Helsinki in August, cleared the height on her second attempt.
It was the 19th world record set by Isinbayeva.
Last season, Isinbayeva improved her own pole vault world records nine times - four indoor and five outdoor. In London in July, she became the first woman to clear five meters.
"Pole Vault Stars" is an annual event organised by pole vault great Sergei Bubka.
Before the World Championships in Moscow on March 10-12, Isinbayeva is scheduled to compete at the Norwich Union Grand Prix in Birmingham on Feb 18 and at the Gaz de France on March 3.
- AP