BEIJING - Defending pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva took off her track suit for exactly one jump, clearing the qualifying height of 4.60 meters, 44 centimeters off her world record, to advance to Monday's final. Her closest challenger, Fredonia's Jennifer Stuczynski of the United States, also went through.
"No problems. The goal was to make qualification without expending much energy," said Isinbayeva, who already broke her own world record twice this season.
Stuczynski also needed just one jump as she cleared 4.50 meters (14-feet-9 inches).
Ten others also cleared 14-9 as 12 participants qualified for Monday's finals at 7:20 a.m.