No medal for Filippidis as he ends fifth in pole vault
Costas Filippidis could do no better than the fifth spot in the final of the men’s pole vault at the European Indoor Championships in Prague on Saturday.
The reigning world champion cleared a season-best 5.75 meters, but was overtaken not only by hot favorite Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie, winner with 6.04 m., but also by three other jumpers, to end up below his target that was a place on the podium.
Filippidis failed in his first attempt at 5.45 m. to go over that height at the second time of asking, before clearing 5.55 m., 5.65 m. and 5.75 m. at the first attempt. Yet 5.80 m. proved too much for the Greek who had to settle for fifth.
Earlier high-jumper Antonis Mastoras eased to the men’s final clearing 2.28 m. at the first attempt. He will be joined in Sunday’s final by Cypriot Kyriakos Ioannou, the 2009 silver medallist.
Georgia Kokloni and Makis Stergioulis were disqualified from their heat at the 60 meters dash.
