OSAKA, Japan — Jenn Stuczynski hobbled away from the pole vaulting area carrying her gear and an ice pack.

The U.S. vaulter had hoped that her sore left ankle would be better by now. Instead, the problem moved up to her Achilles' tendon.

The injury bothered Stuczynski on Sunday as she qualified for Tuesday's finals at the track and field world championships by clearing 14 feet, 11 inches.

It's tough enough to beat Russia's Yelena Isinbayeva with two good ankles, let alone a sore one on her takeoff leg.

"This ankle is making me a little angry," said Stuczynski, who simply taped it a little tighter. "But I'm jumping pretty good in spite of it."

Stuczynski has the second-best mark in the world this year, clearing an American record 16 feet in early June. She had already ended Stacy Dragila's 11-year reign as the U.S. record-holder.

But Isinbayeva is at a different level. The 25-year-old holds the world record of 16-5 1/4, which she established in 2005 at the world championships. Isinbayeva has set 20 world records (13 outdoor, seven indoor).

Stuczynski used to be in awe of Isinbayeva but is realizing she can compete with her.

"I've never gone in with the mind-set of beating her," said Stuczynski, a former basketball star for NAIA Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, N.Y. "I've kind of gone into it just wanting to compete. But I'm starting to change my attitude."

Stuczynski struggled after winning the U.S. championships for a second straight year in late June. She couldn't find the right technique.

Then, during a meet in London, she hurt her ankle when she landed on the mat wrong. She felt an instant burning sensation.

"My body was breaking down," said Stuczynski, who's only been vaulting since 2004. "I needed to go home and get a fresh start."

View Comments

So Stuczynski returned to Churchville, N.Y., in early August and went back to the basics. She had the best nine days of practice she's ever had leading up to the world championships.

Still, there were some nagging concerns.

Those were erased on the day she was scheduled to fly to Japan. With four hours to kill before her flight, Stuczynski decided to take a couple of extra practice vaults. She cleared 15-9, her best vault ever in practice.

"I was like, 'All right, you're ready,"' Stuczynski said. "The way I'm vaulting, I feel like I'm doing a lot of things right. I feel like I'm ready."

Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.