Masters at Modesto: Solid but not record marks
Stacy Dragila, competing against the kiddies, wasn’t at the top of her game today at the Modesto Relays, the results indicate. She vaulted 4.10 (13-05 1/4), tying for fifth. It was short of her W35 world record 4.30 of last weekend. M35 sprinter Jeff Laynes and M40 dashman Aaron Thigpen were also off their age-group bests. Jeff clocked 10.31 for 100 with a maximum-allowable wind of 2.0 mps. Aaron ran 10.82 with an illegal wind of 2.1 mps.
The Sacramento Bee reported on the breezy meet:
By John Schumacher – Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Sunday, May 6, 2007
She didn’t win or clear any impressive heights, but Stacy Dragila figures shaking off the rust counts as a step forward on the road to Beijing.
After a 20-month layoff, the 2000 Olympic gold medalist in the women’s pole vault competed for the second time in two weeks Saturday, clearing 13 feet, 5 1/4 inches to tie for fifth in the 66th Modesto Relays at Modesto Junior College.
She missed three attempts at 13-11 1/4 before running a series of sprints on the backstretch of the track and proclaiming herself healthy again.
“My legs feel great, my Achilles’ is awesome,” said the 36-year-old Dragila, who underwent Achilles’ tendon surgery last June. “It’s just me getting on the runway and getting some jumps underneath my belt.
“My stride is finally opening up. I’m getting more and more comfortable on the runway, and I need a bigger stick (pole).”
China’s Gao Shuying won the event with a 14-9 clearance.
Dragila, who attended Auburn’s Placer High School, cleared 14-1 1/4 in a meet last week in Provo, Utah, her first competition since the World Track and Field Championships in Helsinki, Finland, in August 2005. She set the American record of 15-10 in 2004.
Her goal now is to make the U.S. team for the world championships in Osaka, Japan, in August and then give herself a chance to qualify for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
“Make the (world) team, then give it a good fight,” Dragila said. “I’m just thankful I’m back out here. I honestly didn’t know if I was going to.
“I don’t think my age is a factor. I think I’m in great health.”
