Olympic pole vault champ Yelena Isinbayeva experiences rare defeat at London GP

September 12th, 2009 Gay beats Powell in 100 at World Final in GreeceTHESSALONIKI, Greece — Tyson Gay beat Asafa Powell in the 100 meters at the World Athletics Final on Saturday, finishing in 9.88 seconds in his last major race of the season. Gay overcame a slow start to pull away from Powell, who was timed in 9.90.

September 10th, 2009 Pole vaulter Stacy Dragila retiresPARIS — Former World and Olympic champion Stacy Dragila has ended her 14-year pole vaulting career with a second-place finish at the DecaNation track and field meet. The 38-year-old American won gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the first games in which women competed in the pole vault.

September 4th, 2009 Richards, Isinbayeva, Bekele to share $1M jackpotBRUSSELS — American 400-meter runner Sanya Richards, Pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva and 5,000 champion Kenenisa Bekele each secured a third of the $1 million Golden League jackpot by winning all six of their European meets. World champion Richards led the entire race at the Van Damme Memorial.

September 2nd, 2009 Pole vaulter Isinbayeva awarded Spanish prizeMADRID — Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva has been awarded one of Spain's prestigious Prince of Asturias prizes in recognition of her determination to excel in the sport. Prize organizers say the 27-year-old Isinbayeva was chosen for the 2009 Asturias sports award "not just because of her exemplary life and work but because she has set new ceilings in the battle to better oneself and contribute to the perfection, development and promotion of sport." Isinbayeva set her 27th world record in Zurich last Friday, a week after she lost her title at the world championships in Berlin.

August 28th, 2009 Isinbayeva sets pole vault world record; Bolt winsZURICH — Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva bounced back from losing her world title by setting a world record of 16 feet, 7¼ inches in the Weltklasse meet Friday. Usain Bolt, in his first race since smashing world records in the 100 and 200 meters, shook off Jamaican teammate Asafa Powell to win the 100 in 9.81 seconds.

August 28th, 2009 Isinbayeva breaks pole vault world recordZURICH — Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia has broken her pole vault record again with a leap of 16 feet, 7¼ inches. She set her latest record Friday on her first attempt at the Weltklasse meet.

August 20th, 2009 Aussie pole vault champ Hooker unsure for finalBERLIN — Even though Olympic pole vault champion Steve Hooker qualified for the world championship final Thursday, the Australian remains unsure if he can compete due to an injury. Hooker recently strained the adductor in his right leg in a training session.

August 17th, 2009 Isinbayeva loses pole vault title at worldsBERLIN — Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva could not explain it. The woman who ruled the pole vault for five years failed to clear height Monday and was out of the world championships.

August 13th, 2009 Pole vault champ Hooker hurts leg ahead of worldsBERLIN — Australian Olympic pole vault champion Steve Hooker is uncertain for the world championships because of a leg injury. Hooker strained the adductor in his right leg during training Monday and team doctors are fighting to get him fit for the Aug.

July 25th, 2009 LONDON - Fastest man on the earth Usain Bolt won the 100m at the London Grand Prix here in astounding style. Usain Bolt blew away all opposition in front of a sell-out crowd, running the 100 metres in 9.91 seconds into a strong headwind, seemingly unaffected by the news of his five compatriots' positive drugs tests.

July 18th, 2009 PARIS - Yelena Isinbayeva required just one jump Friday to move within two victories of a $1 million Golden League jackpot along with three other contenders. The Russian world and Olympic champion decided to call it a day after one pole vault of 4.65 metres gave her victory on a cool and rainy evening.

July 4th, 2009 Powell edges Bailey in 100 meters at Bislett GamesOSLO — Asafa Powell overcame a poor start to win the 100 meters in a photo finish at the Bislett Games on Friday, but fell short of clocking his 50th time under 10 seconds. The former world record-holder from Jamaica finished strongly to win in 10.07 seconds, with runner-up Daniel Bailey of Antigua given the same time.

July 4th, 2009 OSLO - Sanya Richards of the United States lowered her 2009 world best over 400 metres at the Bislett Games as she remained in the hunt for athletics' Golden League $1-million jackpot. Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva and Ethiopian distance runner Kenenisa Bekele are also among six from an original 10 athletes in the race for the jackpot which goes to athletes who win their event at all six stops of the elite series.

June 10th, 2009 Bolt wins Laureus World Sportsman awardTORONTO — Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt won the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award on Wednesday for his record-breaking performance in the Beijing Olympics. Bolt became the first man to win gold in the 100 meters (9.69 seconds), 200 meters (19.30) and 400-meter relay (37.10) in world record times in the same Olympiad.

June 5th, 2009 Isinbayeva to warm up for worlds in LondonLONDON — Olympic and world pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva will use next month's London Grand Prix as a warmup for defense of her world title at Berlin in August. Isinbayeva announced on Friday that she would compete at the London meet where she has won the event six times, setting three world records.