Swedish Indoor Track Championships: Alhaji Jeng Impresses in Vault

Published 2008-February-24

Pole vaulter Alhaji Jeng won his first competition of the season Saturday by clearing 5.71 m. Jesper Fritz finished second by clearing 5.55 m.

Jeng nearly added to his own Swedish national record of 5.80 m, set two years ago in Donetsk—site of Yelena Isinbayeva's world record of 4.95 m last week—by making a very good third attempt at 5.81 m.

Though unsuccessful, the 26-year-old showed he has the capacity to clear the 5.80 m barrier again, and is showing fine form as he attempts to capture gold in Valencia, following the silver medal he won at the 2006 World Indoor Championships in Moscow.

Jeng was hampered by being forced to wait it out when some of his competitors entered the competition more than a metre beneath his opening height.

M Stavhopp Final lördag

Plac	Namn	Född	Förening/Land	Resultat
1	Alhaji Jeng	81	Örgryte IS	5.70
2	Jesper Fritz	85	Malmö AI	5.55
3	Gustaf Hultgren	83	Örgryte IS	5.23
4	Fredrik Skoglund	81	Spårvägens FK	5.07
5	Joakim Norman	84	Mölndals AIK	4.95
6	Pawel Szczyrba	81	KA 2 IF	4.95
7	Deniz Mahshid	80	Örgryte IS	4.83
8	Alexander Eriksson	79	Spårvägens FK	4.65
8	Rasmus Tjärndal	85	Ullevi FK	4.65
8	Marcus Lindh	76	KA 2 IF	4.65
11	Erik Thorstensson	89	Spårvägens FK	4.65
12	Sebastian Axell	91	IK Lerum FI	4.47
13	Rasmus Olofsson	84	Hässelby SK	4.47
14	Jonathan Eklund	88	Hammarby IF	4.47