12.03.2010

Hooker books his finals berth in Doha

World, Olympic and Commonwealth pole vault champion Steve Hooker is on track to secure his maiden world indoor crown after breezing through qualifying on day one of the world indoor titles in Doha, Qatar.

The inaugural captain of the Australian Flame will be joined in the finals action on day two of the three-day meet by world championships teammate Scott Martin, who turned on a season's best performance of 20.61m to advance to tomorrow night's final of the men's shot put.

Twenty-seven-year-old Hooker, who is looking to add world indoor gold to the world, Olympic and Commonwealth Games crowns already lining his trophy cabinet, will enter tomorrow night's nine-man final as firm favourite to take victory.

The Western Australian-based vaulter required just one jump to shore up his spot in the decider, his opening leap of 5.60m enough to see him through to the final at 12:15am this Sunday, March 14 (AEDST).

In a shock result that will open the door for Hooker in his pursuit of world indoor glory, Berlin world championships bronze medallist Renaud Lavillenie (FRA) was eliminated from competition with a best leap of just 5.45m.

Despite the ease in which Hooker advanced to the final round the pole vault star said it had been a long day at the office.

“It was a hard morning, we got here at 6:15am and qualifying finished at 12:20pm,” he said.

“Now I need to get some rest and prepare for tomorrow's final. I know what I must do.

“It was a shock that Lavillenie didn't make it through but it will be a very competitive final.”

In the qualifying rounds of the men's shot put 27-year-old Scott Martin, who placed seventh on debut at the world indoor championships in Valencia (ESP) in 2008, was in impressive form at the Aspire Dome, posting two consecutive season's best results to seal his spot in tomorrow night's final.

Opening his campaign with a throw of 19.51m, Martin bounced back to launch a season's best 20.21m in Round 2 and move up to ninth on the leaderboard, just outside of a berth in the deciding round.

Staring down the barrel of elimination Martin turned on an impressive 20.61m on his third and final attempt to record his second consecutive season's best throw and secure his spot in the final as the third-placed qualifier.

“I thought I was eighth, then (David) Storl (GER) got past me and I had to find something. Fortunately I did,” Martin said.

“My first round was terrible, 19.51m. It felt technically good but it just came out soft. I had to harden up.

“20.21m was a season's best but I knew I had to improve on the final throw.”

Martin will return to the Aspire Dome to contest the men's shot put final at 12:20am this Sunday, March 14 (AEDST) and said the meet timetable, which allowed athletes a brief layover, would hold him in good stead.

“(The rest) is really good for me,” he said.

“I think the previous method really favoured the top throwers, especially the gliders who don't have to put so much into it. For rotational throwers like me it was a bit harder, so I'm glad for the chance of a good feed and a night's rest.”

Fellow Australian Flame athlete Petrina Price was the only one of three Australians in action in the opening session of the world indoor meet to bow out of the competition, eliminated in the qualifying rounds of the women's high jump.

Twenty-five-year-old Price cleared 1.85m before three missed attempts at 1.89m saw her place 13th overall and miss out on a berth in the final round.

World championships long jump bronze medallist Mitchell Watt and world titles fourth place-getter Fabrice Lapierre will fly the flag for Australia in the second session on day one of the world indoor titles when they step out in the qualifying round of the men's long jump at 12:45am tonight (AEDST).