Bubka Raises Outdoor Record to 19-11 1/4

Sergei Bubka of the Soviet Union broke his world outdoor record in the pole vault Sunday, clearing 19 feet 11 1/4 inches, at an international meet in Moscow.

He had set the previous record of 19-11 last month at Shizouka, Japan.

It was the 26th time Bubka has set the world outdoor record.

Bubka also holds the world indoor record of 20-1, set in March at Grenoble, France.

Competing in Locomotiv Stadium before a crowd of about 7,000, Bubka cleared 18-8 1/4 and 19-2 1/4, both on his second attempts, before breaking the record.

After setting the record, Bubka decided not to continue.

“When I cleared the bar at the world record mark, I could sense that it was done easily, by a big margin,” Bubka said.

The 27-year-old native of the Ukraine, said he doesn’t believe he is close to retiring.

“I will compete as long as my results are good,” Bubka said. “It seems to me that for the time being, it makes no sense for me to stop competing.”