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Stacy Dragila
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OLYMPIC Champion Stacy Dragila raised the world record in the women's pole vault to 4.70 metres on Saturday, twice breaking her own indoor world marks.
Dragila, an assistant coach at Idaho State University of the United States, cleared the record height on her third attempt as a crowd of about 7,000 hometown fans and high school athletes cheered during a Golden Spike Tour meet.
“Some athletes like to compete on the road, but I'm so thankful to be home,” Dragila said. “I get to sleep in my own bed, so I got plenty of rest. I got to cook my own meals.”
The Golden Spike meet was sandwiched into the Simplot Games, one of the nation's largest high school meets. Dragila had a receptive audience, and she had them cheering all day.
“To do it here and for the kids to see it, it was a great opportunity,” Dragila said. “To set a world record in front of them, it's something that is few and far between for them.”
She cleared 4.66 metres on her first try at that height, breaking the world record of 4.65 metres she had set on February 9. On February 2, she cleared 4.63 metres at the Millrose Games in New York City, breaking her record by a half inch.
On the second record leap, clearing 4.70 metres, Dragila brushed the bar. It wobbled a few times but stayed up.
“I knew it wasn't the greatest of jumps. I know I nicked it,”she said. “Sometimes the greatest jumps come with a little drama.”
Dragila bounded on the mat and leaped to her feet, raising her arms in triumph and blowing kisses. (SD-Agencies)
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