Jenn Suhr Pole Vaults to New World Record at USA Indoor Championships

Olympic gold medalist and American record holder (indoor and outdoor) in the pole vault, Jenn Suhr, has just set an indoor world record of 5.02 meters (16 feet, 5.5 inches) at the US Indoor Track and Field Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

A "game of thrones" in the world of international vaulting may have just taken a serious turn.

American track's governing body, the USATF, tweeted the following:

Perfection—a term which should not be used loosely—is the only way to describe Suhr's ascending march to the record. She did not have a single miss in her attempts at 4.65, 4.70, 4.80, 4.90 and the world record 5.02.

The record height was an increase in Suhr's personal best (under any conditions) by over four inches.

Suhr did attempt 5.07 (16' 7.5") which would have been the highest vault ever, indoors or out, but she was not successful.

The new world record clearance must have certainly rattled the cage of Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia, the former indoor record holder and current outdoor record holder at 5.06 (16' 7.25").

Isinbayeva, known as the "Queen of the Vault" has not competed during the 2013 indoor season and in her most recent appearances has begun to show signs of a typical late-career decline.

Perhaps Suhr's challenge to the queen's throne will stir Isinbayeva to a firmer defense mode as competition now moves outdoors—and ultimately to the Outdoor World Championships at Moscow in August.

Kylie Hutson, a rising vault star in her own right, produced a personal best of 4.75 (15' 7") to claim second place in Albuquerque.

Follow the final day of action (Sunday, March 3) live on the NBC Sports Network from 4-6 p.m. ET.

Watch a short video clip of Suhr's vault here.

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