Sporting Digest: Athletics

The American Jeff Hartwig became only the eighth pole vaulter to clear six meters on Thursday at the St Denis international meet. Athletes compare the metric barrier to the four minute mile.

Britain's top sprinter Simmone Jacobs, has been forced to pull out of the international against Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the North after going down with a stomach bug.

The American Robert Howard achieved the longest long jump in the world this year, a wind-assisted 8.37m, at the US collegiate championships on Thursday.