Burgess, Hooker fly for one spot

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/st ... 18,00.html

Burgess, Hooker fly for one spot
By Jenny McAsey
August 21, 2006
POLE vaulters Paul Burgess and Steven Hooker are tussling for a berth at next month's World Cup.

Every centimetre they clear will count between now and next Monday, when team selectors make the difficult decision on which vaulter will go to the prestigious event being held in Athens on September 16-17.

The World Cup is a teams event, and Australian athletes will be part of the Oceania group.

Competitors to represent Oceania have been selected for nearly all events.

However, the pole vault position has been left to last because the performances of Burgess, 27, and Hooker, 24, have been almost impossible to separate.

Both cleared 5.85m at the Golden League meeting in Zurich over the weekend (behind American Brad Walker who also cleared 5.85m).

The pair have been impressive throughout the European summer and their Zurich results confirmed they will have places at the upcoming world athletics final in Germany.

The final, to be held on September 9-10 in Stuttgart, is billed as a compact world championships, with the top seven world ranked athletes in each event invited to compete.

[mikepv1]

Burgess or Hooker...tough choice.

Both are very talented.

I truly do think Paul Burgess has a very real shot at the world record if he can jump up better at the takeoff. That is the only thing keeping him off of bigger poles. He is the only person I have ever seen besides Bubka that can do what he does off the top.

That being said, though, it is hard to say which is the better big meet performer right now. I guess I'll have to stick with Budgie, but it is not an easy choice.

[rainbowgirl28]

Man they both jumped 5.82 in Rieti... it is gonna be tough!!

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/mot ... 74492.html

A tough decision on the pole vault was not made any easier when the two candidates, Steve Hooker and Paul Burgess, cleared 5.82 metres at the World Athletics Tour meeting in Rieti, near Rome, on Sunday. American Brad Walker cleared 5.87 to win, with Hooker getting second from Burgess on countback with 5.82 at the first attempt.