Brad Walker takes 2011 world lead in pole vault in Chula Vista...

CHULA VISTA, California--Former world champion and University of Washington alum Brad Walker (left/photo by Paul Merca) took over the world lead in the pole vault Thursday at a low key meet at the Olympic Training Center.

Walker, continuing his comeback from an injury in Monaco two years ago that rendered him unable to defend his 2007 world title, jumped 19-2 (5.84m) to take the world lead outdoors from Renaud Lavillenie of France.

According to this post on polevaultpower.com, he cleared 18-0.5 (5.50m) on his first attempt, had two misses at 18-6.5 (5.65m), then passed and cleared 18-9.25 (5.72m), before clearing 19-2.

He also overtakes Scott Roth of the University of Washington, who won the NCAA outdoor title last week for the US lead, which was 18-9.25 (5.72m), set at the Mt. SAC Relays in April.

UPDATE (10:45 PM) In the men's discus, Washington State grad Ian Waltz won with a mark of 214-8 (65.43m), with Marysville-Pilchuck alum Jarred Rome fourth at 210-1 (64.03m). Vancouver native Kara Patterson won the javelin with a throw of 186-11 (56.98m).

Courtesy of jcoover, here's video of Walker's clearance:



Results of the meet are available here...

JESHUA ANDERSON SIGNS WITH ICON...

Received this release from Icon Management in Atlanta announcing that they are now representing Washington State University alum Jeshua Anderson, who capped off his collegiate career last week by winning his third NCAA 400 meter hurdles title.

Fresh off his win in the 400-meter hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Friday in Des Moines, Iowa, Washington State hurdler Jeshua Anderson has joined the Icon brand.

Jeshua waited out a lightning delay and then clocked a time of 48.56, half a second ahead of the field, to win his third NCAA title in the 400mH on Friday.

Currently, Anderson has the sixth fastest time in the world this season of 48.13, set at the Pac-10 championships last month in Tuscon, behind five marks by South Africa's L.J. van Zyl, whose fastest time this season is 47.66, set on February 25th in Pretoria.

On Icon's web site, Anderson said, "“Everyone has goals of having success in life and with a team/family like icon management they embody the tools to put you in the best situation to reach and exceed those goals you have. Making you set your goals even higher.”

Icon Management, led by Kimberly Holland out of Atlanta, lists Rainier Beach HS grad Ginnie Crawford and her husband, two-time Olympic 200m silver medalist Shawn; former Oregon standout Keshia Baker; Tennessee alum Sarah Bowman, and Olympic 400 hurdles gold medalist Angelo Taylor among her clients.

Icon's release is available here…

Finally, here's a direct link to the list of entries for next week's USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships are up. Keep in mind that declarations are not until early next week, and that scratches/changes will be made during the declaration period.

Look for our preview on the meet, which will determine who goes to Daegu for the world championships, next week. paulmerca.blogspot.com will be in Eugene to cover the national championships!

The USA junior championships are also being held in conjunction with the senior meet.  The link to entries is available here.

Finally, a pair of former University of Washington standouts will be in action in Izmir, Turkey at the First League--European Team Championships competition.

Ingvill Måkestad will run both the 800 and 1500 meter races for Norway, while Martin Bingisser will throw the hammer for Switzerland in this two-day meet that begins on Saturday.

The men's entries for this meet are available here, while the women's entries are here.

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