Pole Vault Women: National record hands Kiriakopoulou victory in battle of the Greeks

Nikoleta Kiriakopoulou leapt an outdoor national record of 4.73m to take fellow-Greek Katerina Stefanidi’s world lead by 2cm as world indoor champion Yarisley Silva had to settle for third. Stefanidi, who leapt 4.71 in Des Moines last month, finished second her on countback from the Cuban, clearing 4.58 on her first attempt to Silva’s third. She skipped 4.63 to put pressure on Kiriakopoulou at 4.68, but the latter clinched victory with her third try at that height before squeezing over 4.73 on her second. China’s Asian record holder Li Ling was fourth with a best of 4.48 ahead of Australia’s two-times Commonwealth champion, Alana Boyd.