24th January 2026 19:04
World indoor pole vault champion Marie-Julie Bonnin opened her season in winning style in her home city of Bordeaux on Saturday (24).
A second-attempt clearance of 4.58m was just enough to edge out New Zealand’s Imogen Ayris on countback at the StarPerche World Athletics Indoor Tour Bronze pole vault meeting.
It was a solid opener to the indoor season as Bonnin builds towards the defence of her title at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Kujawy Pomorze, Poland from 20–22 March.
In the men’s competition, the best clearance was 5.60m, achieved by five athletes. However, USA’s Daniel Keaton claimed victory on countback, with Italy’s European U20 and U23 champion Simone Bertelli and France’s Valentin Lavillenie sharing second place.