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Steady as she comes Dragila beats delays, Feofanova for pole vault title
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) -- In the greatest women's pole vaulting display ever, it was fitting that Stacy Dragila won. Dragila outdueled Russia's Svetlanta Feofanova in a four-hour competition marred by technical problems Monday night to claim her second straight world championship. Both cleared 15 feet, 7 inches, but Dragila won by virtue of having one fewer miss at a lower height. Each missed three attempts at 15-9 3/4, which would have broken the American's world record by half an inch. "I was just lucky to stay one step ahead of everybody again," said Dragila, who owns both the outdoor and indoor world marks. "When you have someone on your heels like that, making each attempt right after you do, it's always awesome for your sport." Four women cleared 14-11 at the same meet for the first time. After Poland's Monika Pyrek, who won the bronze, bowed out by failing to clear 15-1, first Dragila then Feofanova went over the bar at 15-3, 15-5 and 15-7. That was well after technical problems held up the event, forcing extra attempts by some competitors. When the stadium announcer explained the confusion to the crowd, he added with a laugh: 'There will be a quiz on this.' The same type of problems marred the pole vault at the Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden in February on the night Dragila broke her own indoor mark. "You'd think they'd get it right," Dragila said. "It got a little frustrating because of the delays, and people not knowing the situation. The officials didn't know what was going on. "I think you could have seen a world record today if they had kept a better rhythm going. That's unfortunate." Feonova is the only other woman who ever has cleared 15-5, which she vaulted last month, but she couldn't quite better Dragila this time. "I am not at all disappointed," Feonova said. "As far as I know, I did not really lose, but we more like tied. One jump was the difference, we both jumped just as high." Dragila took a slow victory lap, walking up to the edge of the infield so she could slap hands with some spectators. Just another example of her efforts to try to raise the sometimes low profile of track and field in the United States. She didn't take the usual route to athletic prominence. In high school, Dragila competed in goat-tying and breakaway roping. She was a heptathlete at Idaho State but was persuaded in 1993 to switch to the pole vault. She won an indoor world title in 1997, captured the first outdoor world competition in 1999, and last summer won the inaugural Olympic women's pole vault. There was nothing Dragila could do other than watch as the medals were finally determined Monday. After she missed her final attempt at a new world record, Dragila sat down to watch Feofanova take her last crack at it. "I was really nervous. I was more bitter at myself for not making it. I went back and sat down on the bench and I was angry at myself and I wasn't going to clap for her," Dragila said. "And then I thought, 'No, I should clap her down the runway.'" Feofanova's legs slammed into the bar, knocking it down to give Dragila the championship. Dragila immediately ran over and gave Feonova a hug, then raised the Russian's hand. "We're both No. 1 today," Dragila said.
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