Bleasdale smashes her British record (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Bleasdale smashes her British record

10:02am Monday 23rd January 2012 in Athletics

BLACKBURN Harriers athlete Holly Bleasdale has smashed her own British pole vault record with a clearance of 4.87 metres in Lyon.

The 20-year-old, from Chorley, initially improved her record by one centimetre with 4.72m and then raised the bar to 4.80m.

But she was not satisfied with that and soared over 4.87m to move top of the world rankings in 2012 and second on the world indoor all-time list.

Only world record holder Yelena Isinbayeva has ever gone higher indoors with a clearance of 5.00m, a height Bleasdale tried to eclipse before failing at 5.01m. Isinbayeva opened her season in Volgograd on Saturday with a best of 4.70m.

“I just lay still on the bed (mat) in astonishment,” Bleasdale said about her new record. “The crowd was absolutely electric and this was an amazing boost. Everyone was on their feet shouting, and when I attempted 5.01m the atmosphere was just out of this world. I’ve never experienced it like that before.

“I ran through twice and had one good attempt.

“I was lucky to have the chance to attempt a world record but next time I will be more mentally prepared.”

Bleasdale failed to register a height in qualifying at last year’s world championships in Daegu, but has been tipped for a medal at her home Olympics in London in August.

She only took up the event for the first time four years ago – after spells in gymnastics, hurdles and heptathlon – but had an impressive 2011 season, breaking the British record twice and winning the European Under 23 title in July.

At the meeting in France on Saturday, Bleasdale beat former British record holder Kate Dennison into second, with fellow Brit Sally Peake third.