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Dragila keeps raising the pole vault standard

by Rick Eymer

Stacy Dragila stood in the runway of the pole vault pit at Stanford's Cobb Track & Angell Field on Saturday staring at the bar, 15 feet, 9 1/4 inches above the ground. The crowd was hushed as Dragila contemplated her jump at history.

Dragila, who already had raised her own world record to 15-5 1/2 less than 30 minutes earlier, began a rhythmic clap as she prepared to sprint down the lane. The crowd picked up the clap as she began her ascent. She barely brushed the bar going over as the crowd exploded into a raucous cheer. Dragila pumped her fists several times. She had done it again.

"People are going to remember this," Dragila said. "They're going to be able to say they saw a world record. How often does that happen?"

Not very. That's why Dragila was able to steal the spotlight away from such distinguished athletes as Marion Jones, Regina Jacobs, Terrence Trammell and John Godina, all winners at the Peregrine U.S. Open IAAF Grand Prix I track and field meet, part of the USATF Golden Spike Tour.

What Dragila did on Saturday may have been one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences for the sellout crowd of 5,375. Certainly, it was historic.

High jumper Valeri Brumel and hammer thrower Harold Connolly set world marks during the famous 1962 USA-USSR dual meet in Stanford Stanford. Two years earlier during the 1960 U.S. Olympic trials, Don Bragg went 15-9 1/4 on a steel polo, Dragila's exact height on Saturday, to set a world record in the men's pole vault.

The last time a world record was set on Angell Field was in 1941, when Indiana's Archie Harris did it in the discus. Stanford's Ben Eastman set world marks in the 440 yards and 880 yards in 1932.

Dragila became just the sixth person to set a world track and field record at Stanford, and she did it twice on the same day. That rarely happens ever.

"Every week, every meet brings something new," said the 30-year-old Auburn native. "My confidence just kept coming. I felt really good. I came out in a good frame of mind."

What makes her feat even more amazing -- and she just missed at 16 feet -- is the fact Dragila is not even at peak performance. After winning the gold medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Dragila went straight into the indoor season without a break. She relied on her physical fitness to carry her through the season. By the time she reached the World Indoor Championships, she had burned out.

These days she's just rounding back into shape, which means there are probably more records forthcoming for Dragila, a six-time U.S. indoor champion, four-time U.S. outdoor champ, two-time world champion and the first-ever women's Olympic champion.

Dragila, who lives in Pocatello, Idaho, first cleared 15 feet on Feb. 19, 2000 in Idaho. Now she's setting her sights on 17 feet, which she considers the ceiling for women pole vaulters.

"I know my USA competitors are ready to jump high," Dragila said. "I have to stay a step ahead of them. I have to take it to the next level. I can be the person to keep pushing it to the 17-0 mark."

It's hard to argue with her. She's been a pioneer in the event since taking a shot at it while a junior at Idaho State. Her coach asked her to clear six feet.

"The first couple trillion times trying to go over the bar were pretty frightening for me," she said.

These days the confident athlete seems to think 16 feet could be reachable as early as the U.S. outdoor championships beginning June 21 in Eugene, Ore.

"I just need to be a little more patient," said Dragila. "I feel like I'm on the cusp of a higher mark. I need to be more focused on what I can do. I got a little excited. I have to remember it's a higher height and it takes more time to get there. The more attempts at it, the more it will feel like nothing. A lot of people didn't think women could jump this high, but it shouldn't be a huge surprise."

Nor was it a surprise that Dragila became an instant crowd favorite Saturday after her record vaults. She received a standing ovation as she made her way around the track in her victory lap.

Dragila's victory virtually overshadowed the appearance of Marion Jones, named last year's world Athlete of the Year after winning five Olympic medals -- including three golds.

Jones, however, probably was most responsible for the sellout crowd. She didn't disappoint, running a 22.70 in winning the 200 meters. It was her fastest legal time of the season, and the third-fastest by an American this year. She has a personal best of 21.62.

"Overall I felt very good," said the 25-year-old Jones. "I had a good start and felt good technically. This was my last race before nationals and it was nice to use this race, and this track, to tune up for the nationals."

Jones was easily the darling of the crowd. She won her race, then made a tour of the track where she was greeted by screaming, adoring fans. She was talking to the media, with a clear view of the pole vault pit, when Dragila broke the world record for the first time. It was perfect symmetry having two of the greatest women athletes in such confluence.

"I'm a fan of the sport, too," said Jones. "Any time I can come back to California and compete in a race, it's always nice."

Trammell, the Olympic silver medalist in the 110 high hurdles, recorded a season best of 13.36 to win that event Saturday. That moved him to sixth-fastest in the world this season. He had been tied for ninth. Among those he beat was Dawane Wallace, who's the world leader at 13.30 this year.

"These guys are all getting primed for the nationals," said Trammell, "so I was happy to get the win. It's been a tough couple of weeks. I've been coming into meet rather fatigued. But this is a great place to run. I always enjoy it here."

Kenya's Luke Kipkosgei raced 7:38.72 in the 3,000, the fastest time in the world this year. Adam Goucher was second in 7:40.34 and Bob Kennedy was third in 7:40.64, which also beat the previous world best and are the top American times this year.

In the men's mile, Kenya's William Chirchir pulled away from a standout field and won going away in 3:52.86, the No. 3 time in the world this year. Stanford's Michael Stember was fifth in 3:59.20, Jonathan Riley eighth in 4:01.29 and Gabe Jennings ran 10th in 4:05.08 in reportedly his final race of the season

John Godina, the reigning world indoor champion and a two-time Olympic medalist, won the shot put at 72-0 1/4, the second-best mark in the world this year to Janus Robberts' 72-1 in February. Godina had five throws over 70 feet, all of which would have won the gold medal in Sydney.

Godina also finished second to a personal record of 222-1 by Canada's Jason Tunks. Godina threw 220-0, giving him one of the best shot put/discus doubles in history.

Stanford grad Regina Jacobs, a four-time Olympian, won the 1,500 meters in 4:04.85, the sixth-fasted in the world this season and the fastest by an American. She ran a 60.8 in the final lap.

"This feels like my first real race," said Jacobs, still bothered by an Achilles' problem. "I have to be cautious and not be crazy trying to go all the time and run tough."

Speaking of running tough, Stanford freshman-to-be Ryan Hall from Big Bear (in Southern California) competed in the men's Olympic Development 1,500 and finished fifth in 3:42.70. That made him the third-fastest prep in history - trailing only the legendary Jim Ryun and fellow high school senior Alan Webb.

"I've have done some strides and workouts here before, but this was my first time racing here," said Hall. "It was exciting to be here. I'm looking forward to going to Stanford."

And given the performances by the athletes last Saturday, they'll be looking forward to returning to Stanford for next year's meet.

"The turnout here says a lot about the support of the fans of track and field," said Marion Jones. "It's always wonderful to compete in front of fans like this."