Hooker, Lagat light up Millrose Games

Australia's Olympic champion Steve Hooker recorded the best indoor men's pole vault in seven years at the Millrose Games on Friday night while Bernard Lagat won the Wanamaker Mile for a record-tying seventh time.

Kenyan-born American Lagat has now won the last five Wanamaker Miles in addition to victories in 2001 and 2003. The seven triumphs bring him level with Irishman Eamonn Coghlan for the most mile victories at the indoor meeting.

Hooker, 26, became the fourth man to surpass 6m indoors with a life-time best of 6.01m.

The milestone vault - and three solid attempts at Sergei Bubka's indoor world record - came in Hooker's first competition since the Olympic victory.

"This was a surprise, to do this well without full practice, but I'm just happy right now," he said.

"I didn't have a chance to think out there. I just jumped."

Lagat finished the mile in three minutes, 58.44 seconds, passing New Zealand's Olympic bronze medallist Nick Willis on the final turn of the banked track at Madison Square Garden. Willis was second in 3:59.48.

"I was fresh and fully prepared for that moment," Lagat said.