Burgess, Hooker fly for one spot
Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 6:43 pm
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.
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.