Holly Bleasdale continued her rapid rise to importance by breaking her own British pole vault record at a meeting in France. The 20-year-old cleared 4.71 metres at the first attempt to improve her previous best by one centimetre. The Chorley-based athlete, who only turned pro in 2010, was delighted with her indoor showing.

I was so happy when I cleared 4.61m but, when I cleared 4.71m, I was ecstatic,she said. It caps a remarkable year for Bleasdale, who won the European Under-23 title in July. She failed to register a height at the World Championships in Daegu, but this latest jump marks her out as a genuine medal contender for the London 2012 Olympics.
The record was even more remarkable, given the fact she was challenging off a 12-stride approach as opposed to her usual 16 strides.I knew I had capabilities of getting 4.61 but getting 4.71 in competition was such a surprise,said Bleasdale, who only entered the contest in Orleans to break up her winter training.
Training has been going amazing and I was really confident and just wanted to have fun seeing as it was just a small competition off a short approach and I did not taper for it.I can’t wait to see what I can vault off 16 strides.Bleasdale’s training partner, Katie Byres, cleared 4.16m to earn fifth place and become the UK indoor junior record-holder.
Women’s pole vault records
The gold, silver, and bronze medal winners in the women’s pole vault from the Olympic games.
GOLD-Stacy Dragila, USA 4.60
SILVER-Tatiana Grigorieva, AUS 4.55
BRONZE-Vala Flosadüttir, ISL 4.50
GOLD-Yelena Isinbayeva, RUS 4.91
SILVER-Svetlana Feofanova, RUS 4.75
BRONZE-Anna Rogowska, POL 4.70
GOLD-Yelena Isinbayeva, RUS 5.05
SILVER-Jenn Stuczynski, USA 4.80
BRONZE-Svetlana Feofanova, RUS 4.75




















