Hubby jumps the gun on wife’s ‘W40 world vault record’
German-born Irie Hill turned 40 on January 16, but didn’t take long to claim her first age-group record. The key word is claim. She didn’t actually beat the record. Now a British citizen, Irie jumped 3.50 meters (11-5 3/4) Saturday at Aberfeldie in Melbourne, Australia, where she trains during the brutal UK winter. However, the listed WMA world outdoor record for her age group is 3.60 (11-9 3/4) by Larissa Lowe of the Netherlands in 2004. (The indoor best also is 3.60 — by Italy’s Carla Forcellini, according to mastersathletics.net.) Irie’s “record” was announced on a polevaultpower.com message board, apparently by Warren Hill, her coach and husband. But nice jump, Irie! Do it again, but higher!
Here’s what Mr. Hill posted:
Irie Hill broke the Women’s 40 World Record in the pole vault tonight, clearing 3.50m at Aberfeldie in Melbourne, Australia.
Competing for the first time since dislocating her heel at the 2008 Olympic Trials in England, Irie took precautionary measures jumping off a shortened run up of 10 steps and wearing her favorite Asics running shoes but not her jumping spikes.
After not touching a pole between June 2008 and December 2008, and with only a few vaulting sessions before she turned 40 on January 16th the outcome was in doubt until warm up with Irie having not even tried a run up past 6 steps.
However the warmup went well clearing bars comfortably and she was full of confidence that the old record of 3.45m (held by Irie’s training partner Dawn Hartigan) could be beaten.
Irie entered the competition at 3.05m and cleared easily on her first attempt before repeating at 3.20. At 3.35m a change up of pole brought reward on the second attempt, leaving her clear to make the world record attempt.
Coming in flat out on a pole she used an ESSX 400/73, off 14 strides last season Irie sailed over first time to take out the record.
She then withdrew from the competition post the record, leaving opportunity to break it again shortly, as she has a series of competitions coming up in Melbourne, Australia before heading for Europe and the European Indoor Masters Championships in Ancona in March 2009. “After injuring my take-off foot at the trials I was ready to give up and walk away from pole vault, but with only 6 months to go until I turned 40 I felt I ought to have a go at the world age record. I couldn’t train until November due to the instability in the ankle, and even in November it was lots of walking and cycling before starting to jump in December.
“Luckily the ankle seems fine now, and the rest, my first in 12 years of pole vaulting, has done me the world of good.
I am really looking forward to moving the record towards 4m over the next few weeks/months”, said Irie shortly after the competition.
One Response
great post!! if any of your readers are interested in quality SPORTS INSOLES just click the highlighted links.
Leave a Reply