Walker reaches higher

EUGENE, Ore. – Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele started the Prefontaine Classic by flirting with a world record. Mozambique’s Maria Mutola ended the meet by kissing the Hayward Field track and saying goodbye.

And in between came American Brad Walker, who produced the signature moment Sunday in the final major tuneup before the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials.

The former University High School and University of Washington pole vaulter soared over the bar in front of the East Grandstands, heard the roar and then watched the bar wobble for a few seconds before it stayed put.

Walker climbed out of the pit, pumped his right arm and held his index finger high in celebration after clearing 19 feet, 9 3/4 inches to break Jeff Hartwig’s American record of 19-9.

“It was surprising because I’ve taken a lot of shots at it,” said Walker, who took advantage of mild, pleasant conditions.

“I basically thought to myself if we had good conditions today I could jump really high. It’s awesome.”

Derek Miles finished second at 19-0 1/4. Hartwig, who tied for fourth and set the record in 1999, was quick to congratulate Walker.

“I really looked up to him as an athlete,” said Walker, 26, who missed three attempts at 20-2 1/2, which would have been a world record. “He was really supportive. He came up and gave me a big hug.”

Walker, who lives near Seattle, has spent the past two months training with Tri-Valley Athletics, a group that works out in a 40,000-square-foot warehouse at the Port of Stockton, Calif.

“It’s a great group, a lot of good vaulters, a lot of people with the same goal,” said Walker, whose training partners include former University of Oregon vaulters Tommy Skipper, Niki McEwen and Becky Holliday.

Bekele won the men’s 10,000 meters in 26:25.97, the fastest ever on American soil. The rhythmic clapping started on the first lap, with Bekele keeping his world record of 26:17:53 in sight before fading slightly late in the race.

“I got tired on the 18th, 19th lap,” said Bekele, who was coughing during his post-race interview. “It’s tough. I can’t push more than this time.”

Meseret Defar, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist, followed Bekele onto the track to claim the women’s 5,000 meters in 14:38.73, well off the world record of 14:11.15 set by Tirunesh Dibaba on Friday in Oslo, Norway.

But Defar’s effort shattered the Hayward Field mark of 15:06.53 set by Mary Slaney in 1985. Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot (14:57.43) and American Kara Goucher (14:58.10) also broke 15 minutes.

“I was not relaxed in the beginning,” said Defar, 24. “I’m disappointed.”

Adam Nelson won the men’s shot put with a world-leading 72-7 effort. And Stephanie Brown Trafton continued to look like a favorite to win the women’s discus at the Trials, set for June 27-July 6 at Hayward Field. Her 208-4 effort beat the Czech Republic’s Vera Cechlova (207-0) and fellow Americans Suzy Powell (203-1) and Becky Breisch (202-6).

“Eugene is my favorite place to throw,” said Trafton, 28, noting the venue’s intimacy.

That intimacy was evident when Mutola, running in her final Prefontaine Classic, closed the meet by winning her 16th consecutive race in the meet, the women’s 800 in 1:59.24.

She received a standing ovation before the race, and plenty of cheers after surging in the final 200 meters to keep her streak intact.

“Sometimes you just have to say goodbye to good things,” said the 35-year-old Mutola, who went to high school in nearby Springfield and lost her first Prefontaine race here.

“For me, I’m coming to the perfect place when I come to Prefontaine. … To win was very satisfying.”