Track & Field: Averbukh falls short in his swansong Nationals

Averbukh's final Israeli Athletics Championships ends in disappointment as athlete clears 5.35 meters in the pole vault competition.

By ALLON SINAI
Averbukh 224.88 (photo credit: AP)
Averbukh 224.88
(photo credit: AP)
Alex Averbukh's final Israeli Athletics Championships ended in disappointment on Thursday after he only managed to clear 5.35 meters in the pole vault competition at Hadar Yosef Stadium. The 34-year-old finished the competition second to Yavgeniy Olhovsky, who was crowned Israel's champion with a jump of 5.45m. "I was a little nervous because these were my final championships and it wasn't easy," said Averbukh, who will jump in the Maccabiah and at the World Championships in Berlin in August before retiring. "I'm sure that when I make my final jump at the World Championships it will be really difficult." Olhovsky was excited to have beaten the legend. "I'm very proud," said Olhovsky. "This is the first time I've managed to beat Alex in competition." Also Thursday, Dmitri Glushenko and Rita Pogarelov completed the sprint double. Glushenko won the men's 200m race in 21.11 seconds, with Pogarelov coming first in the women's contest in a time of 24.71s. Yohai Halevi claimed the jumping double, winning the long jump with a leap of 7.50m, a day after also finishing first in the triple jump. Other Israeli champions include: Dorit Naor (women's javelin, 44.65m); Taras Shcherenko (men's 400m hurdles, 51.55s); Ziv Niva (women's triple jump, 12.71m); Dariya Lokshin (women's 400m hurdles, 1:06.50m); Sliman Dua (women's 800m, 2:17.53m), Arad Asael (men's javelin, 61.82m); Ma'ayan Forman (women's high jump, 1.77m); Sivan Aballi (women's shot put, 14.81m); Yosef Gizacho (men's 800m, 1:50.68m); Mugas Tsame (men's 5000m, 14:13.89m); Itamar Levy (men's discus, 52.96m)