British pole vaulter fails to defend her title in Nanjing as Marie-Julie Bonnin takes gold in an occasion beset with technical issues and delays
There was pleasure for France however disappointment for Britain within the ladies’s pole vault on the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing on Saturday morning (March 22).
Bonnin equalled the French document of 4.75m to take gold as Caudery, the reigning champion from Glasgow 12 months in the past, cleared 4.70m earlier than coming agonisingly near clearing 4.75m, a efficiency that left her simply exterior the medals.
The competitors was affected by technical issues with a damaged upright resulting in lengthy delays. “The uprights stored breaking again and again,” mentioned Caudery. “It was actually arduous to search out my circulate in leaping after that. It was powerful however that’s championships for you.”
Tina Sutej of Slovenia took silver with Angelica Moser of Switzerland incomes bronze – each athletes leaping 4.70m as properly.
Caudery loved first time clearances at 4.45m and 4.60m, earlier than requiring a second try at 4.70m. With the bar as much as 4.75m, she couldn’t fairly handle that peak.
Solely Bonnin was in a position to clear 4.75m to take the title earlier than making additional makes an attempt at 4.80m.
Marie-Julie Bonnin (Getty)
Caudery added: “It was undoubtedly not what I wished however I’m upset to say the least. It was a very, actually, powerful competitors and there have been a variety of technical points, however I don’t wish to put any excuses out. I had some actually good makes an attempt at 4.75m however it has been a rocky indoors, with out the consistency I might have favored, so tons to be taught however I’m transferring on to the subsequent one.
“If there’s an hour wait in the course of the competitors when it’s attending to these medal bars – the actually essential bars – it shouldn’t be taking place at a contest like this. The women did wrestle with that, as did I, it ruins the circulate and even I do know we have been all deflated after however that’s championships for you.”
Bonnin, 23, mentioned: “I can’t imagine it. It’s like a dream. I really feel like we have been there for a medal, however not the gold. There have been many good women right here who I anticipated to be in nice form.
“We weren’t certain that we have been going to leap right here two months in the past. We didn’t anticipate it to go this properly, however we tried, and I’m so proud that we made the precise alternative. The bronze medal (on the European Indoors) was so relieving. I got here right here realizing no person might be upset if I don’t do one thing good. But it surely was so relieving.”
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