Pole vault pioneer can still jump
9:16 PM, July 3, 2008
EUGENE, Ore. -- Stacy Dragila, winner of the first women's pole vault Olympic gold medal at Sydney in 2000, has faded into the background while younger women emerged, including American record holder Jenn Stuczynski.
But Dragila, finally fit and healthy after several years of frustration and injuries, made it out of the qualifying round tonight with a jump of 14 feet, 1-1/4 inches. Stuczynski advanced at the same height; Tori Anthony of UCLA and former Bruin Tracy O'Hara also advanced, but Ingrid Kantola did not.
"It was fun to be out there and do things on the first attempt," Dragila said. "It saves my body.
"It's a nice feeling to kind of be a player again."
-- Helene Elliott
