Pedroso leaps to fourth long jump gold
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Updated: 2001-08-12 10:52

Cuban Ivan Pedroso underlined his credentials as a big event performer on Saturday when he shrugged off his indifferent form to claim a fourth consecutive long jump world title.

Pedroso who has struggled with his run-up, was not ranked among the top 10 coming into Edmonton after being limited to a modest 8.18 metres season's best. But he turned in three jumps over that mark including a gold medal-winning 8.40.

It was the ninth world title for the veteran Cuban, who also has five indoor crowns and an Olympic gold on his resume.

American champion Savante Stringfellow, fouled his first two jumps and looked in danger of making an early exit but regrouped to take the silver with 8.24 ahead of Portugal's Carlos Calado, who secured the bronze with a leap of 8.21.

"This was the first good result for me this season and it came at the right place," said Pedroso, who dedicated the medal to his mother and son. "This was a very difficult competition for me because I had trouble with my right leg.

"I just thank God it didn't impair me here.

"This keeps me going, I want to win all the world championships that I can achieve."

While far from his best, an unruffled Pedroso came through when it mattered.

After fouling on his opening jump, Pedroso took control of the competition upping the ante on three of his next four jumps with leaps of 8.23, 8.35 and 8.40.

Stringfellow, who failed to qualify for the finals at the 1999 world championships and the Sydney Olympics, had looked ready to crash out of the competition again.

But a third round effort of 8.22 left him just one-centimetre behind the Cuban and in the thick of the medal hunt.

"I was thinking, here we go again," said Stringfellow. "But was confident if I got a mark it would be a big one.

"It was a very scary feeling standing there.

"I knew I had the ability to land a big jump but I was just hoping what happened in 1999 and 2000 wouldn't happen again."