Newz Forum: OLYMPICS: Pole vault fav Dragila fails to advance

ATHENS, Greece -- Stacy Dragila failed to make it out of pole vault qualifying Saturday, a shocking disappointment for the medal favorite and former world record holder.

Dragila, who won the vault when it debuted as a women's event at the 2000 Olympics, missed three attempts at 14 feet, 5¼ inches (4.40 meters), well below her best of 15 feet, 10 inches (4.83). After her third miss, she shook her head in dismay and seemed to be stunned. Then she slowly packed up her gear, put on a cap and headed off the field.

"This is something I should be able to do in my sleep," she said later, between sobs.

Her shocking elimination was a blow to U.S. hopes of surpassing its total of 20 medals from the 2000 Games. It came three days after a disappointment in the men's shot put, in which the U.S. squad hoped for a sweep but ended up with only Adam Nelson's silver medal.