American record 6.04m for Walker – Mutola, Bekele other highlights – Prefontaine Classic REPORT

Eugene, USA – Brad Walker took a big step toward establishing himself as the Olympic favourite in the Pole Vault in the Prefontaine Classic on Sunday (8 June) part of the IAAF World Athletics Tour.

Walker cleared an American record 6.04m for the world’s highest clearance since 2001 in the IAAF Grand Prix meeting at the University of Oregon’s newly renovated Hayward Field.

Walker’s effort was among eight meet records in the 34th annual meeting before a record crowd of 14,221 that was also highlighted by Maria Mutola (MOZ), who won the women’s 800m in 1:59.24 for her 16th consecutive win in her final Prefontaine appearance.

Walker was awarded the inaugural Maria Mutola Outstanding Athlete of the Meet Award with a plaque of an autographed No. 1 bib by Mutola.

Meet records galore

Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) turned in the fastest 10,000m ever in the U.S. with a 26:25.97clocking for the No.4 mark of all time and compatriot Meseret Defar won the women’s 5,000m in 14:38.73.

Becky Heidler (GER) won the women’s Hammer Throw (73.93m). Meet records were also set by Torri Edwards in the 100m (10.94) and Geleta Burka (ETH) in the women’s 1500m (4:00.44) on a warm, sunny afternoon.

Alfred Yego (KEN) won the 800m in 1:44.01 in a Hayward Field record and Wallace Spearmon clocked 20.14 to round out the record rampage.