Hooker out of worlds after no-heighting

Aug 27, 2011, 8:06 GMT

Daegu, South Korea - World and Olympic champion Steve Hooker met disaster on Saturday when the Australian no-heighted in pole vault qualifying at the world championships.

Hooker, one of the favourites for the gold on Monday despite an injury-plagued season, failed to clear his opening height of 5.50m on all three attempts.

'I felt fine physically, but wasn't there mentally. I felt kind of lost on the runway,' Hooker told reporters.

'The last two years I ended the season injured. Practically this is the end of the season for me. I will have a rest, take a mental break and will go back training (for the London 2012 Olympics).'

Hooker famously defied a thigh and knee injury to win the 2009 world title with just three jumps, one in qualifying and two in the final.

No-heighting is not uncommon in the difficult event. Back at the 1992 Olympics world record holder Sergey Bubka failed to clear the opening height and the same happened to women's superstar Yelena Isinbayeva at the 2009 worlds.

Hooker was in good company, though, as the other two medallists from the 2008 Olympics, Evgeniy Lukyanenko of Ukraine and Denys Yurchenko failed to make the final as well with 5.35m and 5.50m, respectively.

Season leader Pawel Wojciechowski of Poland (5.91m) barely escaped with 5.50m while strong Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie was safely through with 5.65m.