Isinbayeva and Richards share jackpot

BERLIN: Russian pole-vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva and American 400m runner Sanya Richards secured half shares in a $1 million jackpot when they completed perfect Golden League seasons on Sunday.

Cheered on by a crowd of more than 70,000 at Berlin's Olympiastadion, Isinbayeva, the Olympic and double world champion, cleared 4.82m to see off Monika Pyrek of Poland and fellow Russian Svetlana Feofanova.

Richards, the only other athlete still bidding for a sixth win in Golden League meetings, won on the blue track in 49.27 seconds, the fastest women's 400 of the year and more than a second ahead of Britain's world champion Christine Ohuruogu.

Victory capped a second jackpot season in succession for Richards, who scooped a $250,000 share of the money last year.

"I always say I spend too much so the goal this year is to invest it," Richards said at a news conference. "But it's my mum's birthday tomorrow so she'll get a nice birthday gift."

The Berlin meeting took place two days after Friday's event in Brussels and there were no serious world record attempts.

With the money in her sights, the 25-year-old Isinbayeva secured victory with a minimum of fuss.

She entered the competition at 4.62, clearing it at the first attempt, and then went over first time at 4.77 and 4.82.

With Pyrek failing at 4.77 and Feofanova bowing out at 4.82 it left Isinbayeva to have a go at her own world record of 5.01.

Back flip

The Russian set the bar at 5.02 but did not get near to clearing it. If she was disappointed Isinbayeva hid it well, as she celebrated with a back flip on the landing mat.

"It was a lot of hard work but I was always confident," the peerless Russian told reporters.

"I now want to share the money with some poor kids, starting with my home town of Volgograd. I don't know how yet but I have the security to do that."

Richards had missed out on competing in the 400 at the world championships in Osaka, after failing at the US trials, but she gained ample compensation with Sunday's victory.

The American led from the start, built up a lead of more than five metres going to the home straight and crossed the line with her arms raised and half a million dollars richer.

"No one knows how hard it was this season with my illness but I've come through to have a great year," Richards said.

Croatian high jumper Blanka Vlasic had come to Berlin with an eye on a world record but had to be content with winning the competition with a jump of 2.00 metres.

Richards's win apart, it was a low-key meeting on the track.

With Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay absent, Jaysuma Saidy Ndure won the men's 100m for Norway in 10.14, a hundredth of a second ahead of Britain's Marlon Devonish.

Jeremy Wariner ran 44.05 to easily win the men's 400 but fellow American Bernard Lagat, double world champion in Osaka, was beaten into second place in the 1500m by Daniel Kipchirchir Komen of Kenya.

"The last lap killed me," Lagat told reporters. "I've run so many kilometres this season. I need a rest."

Agencies

(China Daily 09/18/2007 page23)