Isinbayeva falls short
Published: August 18, 2009, 12:30 am
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Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva could not explain it. The woman who ruled the pole vault for five years failed to clear height Monday and was out of the world championships.
Kenenisa Bekele and the Jamaican sprinters, however, were as predictable as ever. Bekele extended his domination in the 10,000 meters with a fourth straight world title and Shelly-Ann Fraser added one to her Olympic gold in the 100.
Isinbayeva had won all major titles since the 2004 Athens Games and saw a difficult year hit an unexpected low when the bar fell on her while attempting 15 feet, 9 inches. As the Russian held her head in despair, Anna Rogowska of Poland, who beat her at a meet in London last month, celebrated unexpected gold by clearing 15-7.
“I don’t have any particular explanation what happened with me, why I lost today,” Isinbayeva said. “Everything was perfect. I just believe that it’s destiny. This sport, sometimes it happens. I feel sad because I don’t have any reason.”
Fredonia native Jenn Stuczynski, the silver medalist at the 2008 Beijing Games, did not compete in the world championships due to an Achilles injury.
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