Walker gets fifth in Lausanne as winds play havoc with field at Athletissima meeting...

LAUSANNE, Switzerland--University of Washington alum and reigning USA national champ Brad Walker (left/photo by Mike Scott) finished in a tie for fifth in the pole vault Thursday night at the Athletissima meeting, stop number eight of the IAAF Diamond League tour.

Walker cleared his opening height of 18-1 1/4 (5.52m) on his first attempt, then after passing at 18-5 1/4 (5.62m), missed all three attempts at 18-9 1/4 (5.72m), a bar only cleared by winner Konstantinos Filippidis of Greece.

The tricky winds during the competition contributed to the relatively ordinary marks by the field, and claimed as one of its victims reigning Olympic champ Renaud Lavillenie, who no heighted.

The vaulters move on to Saturday's Diamond League stop, the Meeting Areva in St. Denis, France, on the outskirts of Paris at the Stade de France.

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