Photo: Alan Webb won the Men's Olympic Development Mile at the Penn Relays on April 24th with a time of 4:04.42; Jason Long placed second. Photo by Victah Sailer

Bekele Breaks 10 km WR; Dragila Reclaims WR in Pole Vault
Defending Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion Stacy Dragila on Tuesday reclaimed the world record in the women's pole vault, clearing 4.83 meters (15 feet 10 inches) at the Golden Spike 2004 IAAF Grand Prix meeting in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

The 33-year-old Dragila last held the world record less than a year ago. Her mark of 4.81m/15-9.25, set June 1, 2002, at the U.S. Open in Stanford, CA, was broken last summer by 2004 World Indoor champion and world indoor record holder Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia. The Russian had cleared 4.82m/15-9.75 on July 13, 2003, in Gateshead, England.

Tuesday in Ostrava, Dragila was anything but perfect in her jumping, making only 4.25m/13-11.25 on her first attempt. But she was in record-breaking form, sending a strong message to her possible Olympic competitors about her fitness and competitiveness. Dragila made 4.40m/14-5.25 on her second attempt; 4.51/14-9.5 on her third; 4.71/15-5.5 on her second try; and 4.83 on her third attempt.

Alan Webb of Reston, VA, in the 1,500m, earned the most significant of Americans' four additional wins--besides Dragila-- at Ostrava, running a 2004 world-leading time of 3:32.73 and beating a dauntingly stacked field.

As the Home Depot Invitational winner (3:35.71), Webb had set personal bests this year at Home Depot and on May 31 in Hengelo, The Netherlands (3:33.70), but Ostrava was the biggest win of his career, marking his first international victory. On Tuesday, Webb did more than run fast, he also beat the best the Kenyans had to offer. In the field were 2000 Olympic gold medalist Noah Ngeny (16th), Olympic bronze medalist Bernard Legat (4th), 2004 World Indoor champion Paul Korir (12th), and 2000 World Junior gold medalist Cornelius Chirchir (14th). Ivan Heshko of Ukraine placed second to Webb in 3:32.88, and Timothy Kiptanui of Kenya was third in 3:33.34. Designated pace-setter Roman Oravec of the Czech Republic led through the first two laps (53.87 at 400m and 1:51.37 at 800m), while Webb led with one lap to go (2:50.35), and finished with the win.

From IAAF: Webb grows in stature

With the strongest field of the season assembled, a world leading time was expected in the men's 1500, but the winner, American Alan Webb, provided one of the biggest surprises of the evening.

Running just a few steps behind pacesetter Roman Oravec from the gun, the 21-year-old moved to the front for good when Oravec completed his chore to reach the line in 3:32.73, the fourth personal best for Webb this season in as many races.

"I felt really good," said the jubilant Webb, whose breakthrough season is finally fulfilling the promise he showed when he broke the U.S. high school mile record three years ago. "I just raced away. I figured, I'll either die and run fast, or I'll win and run fast. Right now, I just can't seem to not take time off. When the rabbit dropped off, I just hammered it. I was waiting for someone to come, and no one did, so with 150 to go, I gave it everything I had and I held on."

With his typical late race surge, Ivan Hesko finished second in 3:32.88, ahead of Timothy Kiptanui (PB 3:33.34), Bernard Lagat (3:33.61) and Ali Saidi-Sief (3:33.89).

The USATF story continues:
In other events, American athletes swept 1-4 in the men's 110m hurdles, with four-time world champion Allen Johnson leading the way with a meet-record time of 13.12. Behind him were Larry Wade in second and Terrence Trammell in third, both with times of 13.33, and Ron Bramlett fourth in 13.39.

Americans also went 1-4 in the women's 100m, led by world champion Torri Edwards (11.25), LaTasha Colander (11.29), Chryste Gaines (11.30) and Inger Miller (11.39). Colander had run 11.18 in Heat 1, the fastest time of the day, but Edwards prevailed in the final.

2003 World Indoor 60m champion Justin Gatlin won the men's 200m in 20.30, followed by Shawn Crawford, second in 20.35.

Dragila's was not the only world record in Ostrava. Fresh off a world record last week in the 5,000m (12:37.35 May 31 at Hengelo), Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia on Tuesday broke Haile Gebrselassie's world record in the 10,000m with his time of 26:20.32. The time handily beat Gebrselassie's previous mark of 26:22.76 from 1998.

See complete results from Ostrava.