FIVE-METRE MORRIS

IAAF GRAND PRIX SERIES ENJOYS AN EXCITING END IN BRUSSELS

PICTURES: GARY MITCHELL

Sandi Morris: only the third five-metre female vaulter in history

BRUSSELS DIAMOND LEAGUE

SANDI MORRIS became just the third female pole vaulter to clear 5.00m indoors or outdoors as she broke the Diamond League record as the series came to a conclusion for 2016.

The American has had a rollercoaster year, but it ended on a high as Morris, who broke her wrist at a meeting in Ostrava in May, followed up her Olympic silver medal with the world-leading and American outdoor best clearance. The 24-year-old had gone into the competition targeting the meeting record and, after achieving that, she had unsuccessful attempts at 5.07m, which would have set a world record.

Only Russia’s world record-holder Yelena Isinbayeva, whose 11-year-old Diamond League record Morris broke in Brussels, plus USA’s Jenn Suhr, have ever gone higher than Morris’s mark.

The American’s win turned the tables on Olympic champion Ekaterini Stefanidi as she cleared 4.76m for the runner-up spot but the Greek vaulter’s achievements throughout the rest of the Diamond League series did mean she secured overall victory.

“In Rio I was so close to something I really wanted but today I did more than I suspected,” said Morris. “Sometimes you lose, sometimes you win.

“Five metres is a number to be respected,” she added. “Only three women in history have done it if you count outdoors and indoors and I’m one of them. This is so cool.”

Another world record attempt had been planned in the women’s 5000m, but world 10,000m record-holder and Olympic champion Almaz Ayana did not manage it this time. She nevertheless dominated to claim victory in a meeting record-breaking 14:18.89 and also secured the Diamond Race.

The Ethiopian has three of the six fastest times in history after clocking her 14:12.59 PB in Rome and she finished clear ahead of Olympic silver medallist Hellen Obiri in