MURER LOSES PAN-AM GAMES POLE VAULT TITLE TO SILVA IN MEXICO – By David Martin

World champion and pre-event favourite Fabiana Murer surrendered her Pan American Games pole vault title to Yarisley Silva in Guadalajara on Monday.
 
The 24-year-old Cuban winner cleared a personal best and also relieved Murer of her Games record with a vault of 4.75 metres to  score the biggest win of her career at the Mexican venue.
 
Silva the bronze medallist four years ago when her Brazilian rival posted the previous Games record of 4.60m in Rio Janeiro placed fifth behind Murer at this summer's World Championships in Dageu with a then lifetime highest vault of 4.70m.
 
"It's magnificent to beat the world champion and win the gold, I didn't expect to be contending like this so soon," she said "It shows how much I've been improving."
 
Murer who cleared 4.70m ahead of the USA's Becky Holliday (4.30m) said after the setback: "I came here for the gold, of course, but I'm not disappointed. I knew that the I had peaked at the worlds.
 
"The Cuban really deserved this, she really elevated her level today."
 
Silva's team mate, two-time Olympic hammer silver medallist Yipsi Moreno, winning a third successive title improved her Games record with a season's best of 75.62m 
 
"These may be my last Pan American Games and I'm proud I'm leaving my sports career like this," said the two-time former World champion who missed out on the bronze medal when fourth in Daegu.

David Martin