Beijing Bound-- A Pole Vault Record Holder, Speedy Bolt and Team GB

Golden Gala in Rome

Yelena Isinbayeva cleared 16 feet 6 inches at the Golden Gala in Rome on July 11. She says she was motivated by U.S. vaulter Jenn Stuczynski, who had a good showing at the U.S. Olympic trials.

“Everybody was saying, ‘Isinbayeva is finished, we have a new star.’ So today I was really angry. I was ready for a world record; my goal today was to beat the world record,” she said.

The 200m showdown between U.S. runner Jeremy Wariner and LaShawn Merrit also attracted attention in Rome.

Wariner edged Merrit by a hundredth of a second in a rematch of the U.S. Olympic trials, where Merrit dethroned the reigning champion.

Double-amputee Oscar Pistorius ran in the 400m, but missed the 45.55 needed to make the Olympics. The South African will have another chance in Lucerne, Switzerland on July 16.

Former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell pulled out of the 100m with a minor injury to his groin. He has withdrawn his name from the IAAF Golden League meet in Paris this Friday. Earlier this year, Powell pulled a chest muscle that forced him to miss two months.

Athens Grand Prix

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt posted a 19.67, the fifth fastest 200m in history, at the Athens Grand Prix July 13.

"I am very satisfied with my performance. I feel sure I will be very strong at the Olympic Games," Bolt said.

He also told media he didn’t think he could break Michael Johnson’s 12-year-old record this year, but next year would be a different story.

U.S. 110m hurdler Daryn Robles set a meet record, but didn’t approach his world record of 12.87. Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang is supposed to challenge Robles for gold in Beijing.

U.S. sprinter Sanya Richards easily won the 400m.

"I was very strong. I did not face any problems. I aim for the Olympic gold," Richards said.

Aviva National Championships, Olympic Trials for U.K.

British triple jumper Phillips Idowu says he will break Jonathan Edwards’ record of 18.29 meters in the next month. He leapt 17.58 at the Aviva National Championships, which ran from July 11 to 13.

"I've got the benefit of knowing of what I have to do. 18.40m is what I consider being capable of if I get my run through right," he said.

Sprinter Dwain Chambers, a drug cheat who has served his two-year suspension, topped the 100m, running 10 seconds even. If Chambers wins his Thursday appeal to High Court, the British Olympic Association may have to include him on the team for Beijing. BOA rules say that athletes who have been convicted of drugs charges are banned from life from the Olympics.

Javelin thrower Goldie Sayers won her sixth consecutive Aviva Championship and clinched a spot in Beijing. Though throwing the Olympic A standard, Sayers was unhappy with her performance.

"I was hoping for a bit more. I know I have a lot more in me, and I was hoping to show that today. But then, it's the trials and not the Olympics, and I don't mind holding back for that,” she said.

The British Olympic team is set to be named Wednesday.

Team USA Set for Beijing

USA Track and Field and the U.S. Olympic Committee have named the 126-member squad that will compete in Beijing. The team includes 15 medalists from past Olympics, including Allyson Felix, Lauryn Williams, Sanya Richards, Bernard Lagat, Tyson Gay, Adam Nelson, Bryan Clay and Jeremy Wariner.

"This Olympic Team is one of our strongest ever, with more medal-winning experience in a wider range of events, from sprints to distances and field events, than we've had in many decades," said USATF President/Acting CEO Bill Roe.

"While it would take an incredible performance to match our medal counts of recent championships, we certainly feel that this team has what it takes to again top the medal tables."

Sports Briefs…

Italian rider Leonardo Piepoli won the tenth stage of the Tour de France Monday. Australian rider Cadel Evans claimed the overall lead with Team CSC rider Frank Schleck of Luxembourg only a second behind. Silence rider Evans took the yellow jersey from Kim Kirchen, who fell to seventh. Tomorrow will be a rest day.

The Junior World Championships in Bydgoszcz , Poland wrapped up on Sunday. The U.S. dominated the medals table with 17 total, 11 of them gold. Germany placed second, and Kenya took third.

The Futures Game, a tryout for minor league baseball players trying to make the Olympics, was held at Yankee Stadium Sunday.USA Baseball Director Paul Seiler said the evaluation process was still underway. Some 60 players will be pared down to 24 on Wednesday when the final roster is announced.

Media Watch…

U.S. rider Christian Vande Velde writes about the grueling Tour de France .

Written by Eric Connelly.

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