Belgrade - Slovenia's Tina Šutej won bronze in the women's pole vault at the World Athletics Indoor Championships on Saturday with 4.75 metres. The reigning champion American Sandi Morris defended her title with 4.80 metres, and silver went to Katie Nageotte, also from the US (4.75 metres).

Šutej competed for victory with the two Americans, which was expected given the results this season. Just like Šutej, Morris and Nageotte had both cleared 4.80 metres this season.

Šutej managed 4.75 metres in her first attempt, and so did her two rivals. Morris failed to jump over 4.80 metres in her first attempt and Šutej failed as well. For Nageotte, this was the first height she did not clear in the first attempt.

Neither of the three cleared the height in their second attempts either and in the third attempt, Morris took the lead and remained undefeated.

"I'm happy with the medal. It was almost like competing at home. There were many of our fans, dressed in green, and I felt the support," Šutej said.

The 33-year-old Šutej, who won silver at last year's World Athletics Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland, earned Slovenia its sixth's medal from World Athletics Indoor Championships. No golden medal has been won yet.

Britta Bilač won silver in high jump in 1995 in Barcelona, Jolanda Čeplak in 800m in Budapest in 2004, and Marija Šestak in triple jump in Valencia in 2008.

Brigita Bukovec won bronze in 60m hurdles in Barcelona in 1995 and Merlene Ottey in the same category in Birmingham in 2003.