Victories by Australia’s track and field stars in the major European meets continued overnight with Commonwealth Games pole vault champion Steve Hooker scoring an impressive win in Helsinki.

Hooker’s leap of 5.83m is his best in a major competition and approached his personal best of 5.91m set at an interclub meet in Melbourne.

He won in Helsinki by 14 centimetres with Bulgaria's Spas Bukhalov (5.69m) and Germany's Fabian Schulze (5.69m). Fellow Australia Paul Burgess was fourth (5.62m).

Now based in Perth, Hooker and new training partner Burgess were the only remaining competitors attempting 5.83m.

Hooker cleared on his first attempt, and 'Buggie' failed his three efforts, placing equal fourth with his second-up clearance at 5.62m.

The 24-year old recently moved from Melbourne to train with Burgess and his coach Alex Parnov and the move is already paying dividends.

Hooker shrugged of a nagging back complaint to dominant the competition and credited West Australian physiotherapist Jocelyn Young for being able to compete.

Burgess and Hooker, along with sponsorship from the West Coast Eagles football club, have funded Young’s tour to ensure the duo remain in top shape.

"I strained my hamstring just before we left Australia, but thanks to the Eagles we bought Jocelyn with us and it has really made a difference. I was considering not jumping tonight but warmed up ok so went for it," Hooker said.

"The conditions were tricky tonight and I got a bit of luck with some winds. After clearing 5.83 on my first attempt I had one jump at 5.95 and then went to a bigger pole and had two cracks at 6.01. They were so close – I just shaved the bar on the way down which was pretty exciting."

In other results from Helsinki, 2003 world cross country champion Benita Johnson had a successful day, finishing second in the women's 10,000 metres – recording the third fastest time of the year in the process.

Japan's Kayoko Fukushi won the event in 31min 00.64sec, ahead of Johnson (31min 14.80sec) and American Kara Goucher (31min 17.12sec).

In her 8th 10000m of her career, Benita ran her second fastest time ever. The time was 40 seconds faster than she clocked in the same stadium last year when she placed 19th in the World Championships.

American Reese Hoffa produced a throw of 21.59 metres to lead the United States to a 1-2-3 finish in the men's shot put. Commonwealth discus champion Scott Martin finished 7th with 19.67.

Commonwealth Games steeplechaser, Peter Nowill, clocked his third fastest 3000m steeplechase ever to place 7th in 8:24.62. Perhaps inspired by the recent run of Youcef Abdi (8:21.8) or the fine steeplechasing by the Australian women this year, Nowill ran his fastest time since May last year.

Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Fabrice Lapierre continued his European campaign placing 7th in the long jump with a leap of 7.70m. Ghana’s Ignisious Gaisah leaping 8.32m for victory.

The results tonight virtually confirm spots in the lucrative IAAF World Athletics Final in Stuttgart in September for both Burgess and Hooker. 

Five other Australians are well placed for a spot in the final, with long jumper Bronwyn Thompson leading the Tour rankings, 1500m runner Sarah Jamieson is third, shot putter Scott Martin fourth and pole vaulters Kym Howe and Tatiana Grigorieva third and fourth respectively.

Clinton Hill is ninth and will need to improve two places to guarantee entry and get the chance for a huge pay day in Germany.

Athletics Australia