Walker wins pole vault title on countback

OSAKA, Japan, Sep 1 (Reuters) Brad Walker of the United States beat Romain Mesnil of France on a countback to win the men's pole vault at the world championships today.

Both men vaulted 5.86 metres but Walker was awarded the gold because he cleared the height at his first attempt while Mesnil needed two goes.

Danny Ecker of Germany won the bronze, also on countback, after six men finished level on 5.81.

Walker, 26, finished second behind Rens Bloms of the Netherlands at the 2005 world championships in Helsinki but went one better this time to become the first American man to win the title.

''I think the competition was a phenomenal competition,'' Walker said.

''We had eight jumpers who jumped 5.81 (or higher) which is just great.'' Walker, who won the world title in Moscow last year after recovering from a nasty fall in practice, said his ability to clear his heights at each of his first attempts was the key to his victory.

''I think that kind of took the wind out of the other people's sails,'' Walker said.

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