11.08.2009

Hooker flying high on the eve of world championships

Australian pole vault hopeful Steve Hooker has copped more than his fair share of Europe’s often fickle weather this summer, with three of his four competitions affected either by rain, wind or both.

While two losses - one on countback - recently ended the unbeaten run he had enjoyed since the Beijing Olympics, Hooker is confident he is heading in to this week's world championships ready to take on all comers.

“The results of my four major competitions don’t really reflect the way I’m going. I’m training well and feel like I’m jumping well in training," Hooker said.

“In all the competitions, even the competitions I didn’t win, I felt like I was right in the mix and had every chance of winning if things had gone slightly different.

“I still feel I’m competing well and can beat anyone on any given day, and that‘s a pretty good feeling to go into a world championships with.

“I’m with the Australian team now and I’m basically just fine-tuning before the worlds. I feel like I’m improving by the day and physically I feel the best I have in a very long time.

“The fact I’m injury-free for the first time for the year has brought some little problems of its own. I’ve had to make some minor adjustments. Because I’m running better, running faster, I’ve had to move my run-up out.

“It’s been a gradual progression. Maybe if I’d recognised where I was at sooner I would have been able to make those changes a bit earlier. I think I pretty much know where I am heading to the championships and into the qualifying round, that sort of thing. Mentally, I feel pretty strong.

“As to the competition in Berlin, from the heights jumped this season the pole vault might look a bit down. It might seem quiet, but I think that’s due to most of the competitions with strong fields having been held in poor conditions.

“At Monaco (where Hooker did not compete), Brad Walker (USA) got 5.80m with a big jump and looked like he could go a high 90s, or even six metres. But he got a little injury and pulled out.

“Renaud Lavillenie (FRA) got 5.88m and he’s been jumping high everywhere, and Romain Mesnil (FRA) and Maksym Mazuryk (UKR) got 5.80m. So where they’ve had good conditions, the jumping has been alright.

“Berlin is a very good place to jump. Personally, I’ve done 5.96m there and I know Brad likes jumping there. It’s a great place to jump, the crowd gets involved. I don’t think there’s much wind to speak of. It’s an arena that offers good conditions, so we can expect some good heights there.

“I think the Germans will go well there. Germany has always been a yardstick for pole vaulting and now there’s a new generation coming through. I’m sure they’ll do well with that hometown support.

“It’s been good getting back together with the Australian team, just hearing some Aussie voices around. It’s a really young team. There’s a number of good young athletes who are performing well and building towards their first major championship, and I’m looking forward to seeing some of them come through.

“I’ve had some good training sessions, and it’s great to be in a team environment. It really feels like we’re heading towards a major championships now.

“It’s getting to that stage where we’re done talking. I’m looking forward to letting the results in Berlin speak for themselves.”

Steve

Courtesy of the IAAF