Isinbayeva eyes another pole vault world record, gold

BERLIN - Is Yelena Isinbayeva really vulnerable or will she get more silverware, and possibly another pole vault world record as well, at the world athletics championships Monday?

The Russian has been in a world of her own in the event over the past years, winning every major title since the 2004 Olympics and getting a total 26 world records to a current height of 5.05m outdoors and 5.00m under a roof.

However, the 27-year-old has managed no better than 4.85m outdoors this season and suffered a first defeat in 19 meets recently, losing to Poland’s Anna Rogowska on countback in London.

“I’m a little disappointed. It is unusual for me as I don’t know how to come second,” said Isinbayeva after the loss.

Isinbayeva blamed some injuries but Rogowska is now also nursing a foot problem. However, both easily cleared the qualifying height of 4.60m on Saturday.

Isinbayeva is the undisputed star of the night, but there will also be plenty of attention on the women’s 100 sprint where the US runners want revenge for their defeat at the Beijing Olympics last year when Shelly-Ann Fraser led a Jamaican sweep.

Carmelita Jeter appears their best hope as she ranks third this year with 10.92 seconds. Lauryn Williams has not been great this year but is the 2005 world champion and 2007 silver medallist.

However, the Jamaicans seem set for another big win. Kerron Stewart leads the 2009 pack with 10.75 seconds, making her the fifth-fastest woman in event history. Fraser has 10.88 seconds.

There are four more finals on the night: the men’s 10,000m and hammer throw, and the women’s 3,000m steeplechase and triple jump.

Kenenisa Bekele is the man to beat in the 10,000m as the Ethiopian has never lost a race over the distance and now seeks a fourth straight world title to match his mentor Haile Gebrselassie who did the same 1993-1999.

But the three-time Olympic champion Bekele has not run the distance this year and must be on his guard against the Kenyans, with Micah Kogo a threat and Moses Masai aiming to improve on his fourth place from the Olympics.

Masai got a massive boost when his sister Linet Masai stole the gold from the fancied Ethiopians in the women’s 10,000m Saturday. It could also help his cause that eternal silver medallist Sileshi Sihine of Ethiopia is sidelined with injury.

Kristian Pars of Hungary is the hammer throw top favourite, Olympic champion and world record holder Gulnara Galkina of Russia appears unbeatable in the steeplechase while compatriot ex-champ Tatyana Lebedeva and title holder Yargeris Savigne of Cuba are to battle out the triple jump title.