Steve Lewis of Great Britain ties for 4th.

Hooker & Miles Triumph in Swirling Winds
Jeff Hartwig

24-25 July 2009

London, England – In what has now become a two-day meet the Aviva Grand Prix offers an opportunity for more athletes to compete in more events.  The ladies were first on the 24th with a strong field featuring Yelena Isinbayeva.  The show however was stole away by Polish Record Holder Anna Rogowska who snuck away with the victory after a first time clearance at 4.68 (15’4”) handing Yelena Isinbayeva a rare defeat.  Also in the field was Team Pacer International athlete Kate Dennison of Great Britain who broke her own national record with a 4.58 (15’) clearance to finish 5th.  Chelsea Johnson was 6th at 4.48 (14’8”).

The men followed the next day with a very strong field.  Due to National Championships a number of the years best vaulters were missing but with Brad Walker and Steve Hooker in the field, the stage was set for a great competition.  Steve Hooker proved to be the best on this day with a clearance of 5.70 (18’8 ¼”) to win over Derek Miles at the same height.  Swirly winds proved difficult to navigate for the athletes.  Alhaji Jeng of Sweden was third and a 4-way tie for four with Alex Straub (Germany), Jeremy Scott, Luke Cutts (GB) and Steve Lewis (GB) all finishing at 18’2 ½”.

Pacer Vaulters Dominate Street Meet
Jeff Hartwig

21 July 2009

Jockgrim, Germany – This is the second street meet in the series along with Karlsruhe on the 15th and it features both men and women’s vault.  Both fields were strongly represented by Team Pacer athletes.  On the mens side Derek Miles, Jeremy Scott and Toby Stevenson were all present.  One the ladies side, Chelsea Johnson and Becky Holliday were there along with Kelsie Hendry.  Conditions were great for jumping and on the ladies side, Chelsea Johnson won with a big clearance over 4.56m (14’11”) to establish a new meet record.  Second was Becky Holliday with another strong performance after clearing 4.46 (14’7 ½”).  On the men’s side Derek Miles won with 5.72 (18’9”).  Second was another Pacer vaulter, Germany’s Danny Ecker ahead of Jeremy Scott, both at 18’4 ½”.  Pacer vaulter Tim Lobinger was 4th, also at 18’4 ½” and Toby Stevenson 6th at 17’8 ¼”. 

Scott Skips Paris, Wins in Spain
Jeff Hartwig

16 July 2009

Zaragosa, Spain – Jeremy Scott chose the warm weather and famously favorable winds inside the stadium in Zaragosa over the conditions in Paris.  Jeremy kept his streak of improvement in tact with a winning jump of 18’6 ½”.  Zaragosa has produced good results over the last few years due to its warm and normally dry conditions as well as good winds.

Nasty weather affected all the competitors in the Paris golden League meet. (Getty Images)

Vaulters Struggle in Wind, Rain
Jeff Hartwig

16 July 2009

Paris, France – The Golden League meet in Paris is the only Golden League meet this year that will feature the men’s vault.  With the women having been chosen as a Golden League event, it makes it difficult to stage both the men and women.  Affected by cool temps, rain and strong winds, the vaulters all struggled to find consistency.  On the guys side, the meet was won by Renaud Levillenie.  With his clearance at 18’8 ¼” he was the only vaulter over that height. Derek Miles finished fourth in this meet with a clearance at 17’10 ½” and Toby Stevenson was 6th at 17’4 ¾”.  

Team Pacer Finishes Strong
Jeff Hartwig

15 July 2009

Karlsruhe, Germany – The first of the larger European street meets came to Karlsruhe, Germany.  This meet, known as Hoepfner Sports Night, is held annually at the Hoepfner Beer Brewery in the heart of the city.  Formerly an old German castle the beer garden proves to be the perfect setting for a street meet.  The weather was perfect and the field set featuring Pacer Vaulters Becky Holliday and Kelsie Hendry.  Becky Holliday proved to be the best on this day with a nice clearance at 4.56m 14”11, just 1cm under her lifetime best.  Becky has had a great run this season in Europe and her consistency has led to some great results.

Derek Miles at the Gill Factory Vault 2009.

Team Pacer Finishes Strong
Jeff Hartwig

14 July 2009

Reims, France -- Team Pacer USA and International had a strong presence in this meet.  This meet represented the strongest field assembled to date this year.  Headlining the event was Olympic Champion Steve Hooker and recent six-meter club member Renaud Levellenie.  The competition proved to be very strong as well.  Romain Mesnil of France produced his best result of the season at 5.82m  19’1”, while Renaud Levellenie finishing second at the same height on misses.  Steve Hooker finished 3rd at 5.76 (18’11”) with Derek Miles and Jeremy Scott 4th and 5th at 18’8 ¼”. 

Hendry Vaults 'A' Standard on Carbons
Jeff Hartwig

17 July 2009

Reid, Austria – Located only about 20 minutes across the German border, the town of Reid hosted this annual event which has become part of the Austrian Top 4 series.  www.austriantop4.at  Competing just two days after she vaulted in Karlsruhe, Kelsie Hendry, the Canadian Record Holder vaulted to her best finish of the European season to not only win, but she confirmed her ticket to Berlin for the World Championships with her winning vault of 4.45 (14’7 ¼”).  Equalling the IAAF “A” standard was a big target for Kelsie as it assured that she will be named to the Canadian Team for Berlin.  Finishing second was American Jillian Schwartz at the same height.

Jeremy Ups Season Best
Jeff Hartwig

12 July 2009

Rottach-Egern, Germany – Jeremy Scott got his poles for this one and improved his seasons best over seas to 5.55. 18’2 ½”.  He finished 5th behind a strong field of Germany’s top stars.  Next in his schedule is Reims, France where he will face the top French vaulters as well as Derek Miles, Toby Stevenson and Steve Hooker.

Holliday in Donnas
Jeff Hartwig

12 July 2009

Donnas, Italy Becky Holliday finished second in Donnas with a season’s best 14’7.  Winning the competition was Jillian Schwartz won this time but needed a seasons best 14’11 to defeat Holliday who led the competition until the final height.  Kelsie Hendry of Canada was third this time with a vault of 13’9 ¼”.