British pole vaulter fails to shield her identify in Nanjing as Marie-Julie Bonnin takes gold in an tournament beset with technical issues and delays
There was once pleasure for France however sadness for Britain within the ladies’s pole vault on the International Indoor Championships in Nanjing on Saturday morning (March 22).
Bonnin equalled the French report of four.75m to take gold as Caudery, the reigning champion from Glasgow one year in the past, cleared 4.70m prior to coming agonisingly with regards to clearing 4.75m, a efficiency that left her simply out of doors the medals.
The contest was once suffering from technical issues of a damaged upright resulting in lengthy delays. “The uprights kept breaking over and over again,” mentioned Caudery. “It was really hard to find my flow in jumping after that. It was tough but that is championships for you.”
Tina Sutej of Slovenia took silver with Angelica Moser of Switzerland incomes bronze – each athletes leaping 4.70m as smartly.
Caudery loved first time clearances at 4.45m and four.60m, prior to requiring a 2nd strive at 4.70m. With the bar as much as 4.75m, she couldn’t moderately organize that peak.
Simplest Bonnin was once ready to transparent 4.75m to take the identify prior to making additional makes an attempt at 4.80m.
Marie-Julie Bonnin (Getty)
Caudery added: “It was once no doubt no longer what I sought after however I’m disillusioned to mention the least. It was once a truly, truly, tricky pageant and there have been a large number of technical problems, however I don’t wish to put any excuses out. I had some truly excellent makes an attempt at 4.75m however it has been a rocky indoors, with out the consistency I’d have preferred, so so much to be told however I’m transferring directly to the following one.
“If there is an hour wait in the middle of the competition when it’s getting to those medal bars – the really important bars – it shouldn’t be happening at a competition like this. The girls did struggle with that, as did I, it ruins the flow and even I know we were all deflated after but that’s championships for you.”
Bonnin, 23, mentioned: “I can’t consider it. It’s like a dream. I think like we had been there for a medal, however no longer the gold. There have been many excellent ladies right here who I anticipated to be in nice form.
“We weren’t sure that we were going to jump here two months ago. We didn’t expect it to go this well, but we tried, and I’m so proud that we made the right choice. The bronze medal (at the European Indoors) was so relieving. I came here knowing nobody will be upset if I don’t do something good. But it was so relieving.”
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