Arnstadt: 6-9 (2.06) WL For Vlašić, 7-8½ (2.35) For Ukhov

from Alfonz Juck, EME News

Vlašić 2.06 and Ukhov 2.35

ARNSTADT (GER, Feb 6): The 34th Arnstadt High Jump meeting with music confirmed its excellent name with top results.

Croatian world champion Blanka Vlašić cleared in second attempt new national indoor record 206 and tried three times at new world indoor record height 209. She was the star of the day.

“I passed two metres and achieved 2.02 only in third and that was my wake-up call. That jump was good and also the one at 2.06. It was not the best time of the day for me, as I m usually sleeping between 2-4 pm, so I must be satisfied,” she said.

Vlašić after passing two metres was second during the meet to Russian Svetlana Shkolina who cleared her life-time best of two metres and was at that time leading. One of the Vlasic world record tries was very good. Only three times a woman jumped 206 or higher indoors. Kajsa Bergqvist 208, Heike Henkel 207 and Stefka Kostadinova 206.

Her next meet is Stockholm on Wednesday, then break and home special HJ meet in Split (Feb 21) and another special one in Banska Bystrica on March 4. Places 3-5 were worth of 196. Order was clear as Russian Irina Gordeyeva went over in first, German Meike Kroger in second (PB) and US Chaunte Howard in third (indoor PB).

Another Russian Viktoriya Klyugina was sixth (193), Marina Aitova of Kazakhstan 7th (190) and Levern Spencer of St. Lucia 8th (185).

Another current dominator is Russian Ivan Ukhov. The reigning European indoor champion confirmed his status with excellent third attempt clearance at 235. Afterwards he tried at new national record 241 but was not as close as in Hustopece.

Still on Saturday evening he travels to Moscow where he is due to compete at Russian Winter meet on Sunday. World champion Yaroslav Rybakov as second got 233 and third in his season debut Kyriakos Ioannou of Cyprus (228).

Fourth Kabelo Kgosiemang cleared 228 what is new national indoor record for Botswana. US Andra Manson was fifth on count-back ahead of Czech Jaroslav Baba as both achieved 224 cm.

Packed hall of 1200 spectators saw another special edition of the event which is organised at one landing pit and men and women are jumping after each other.

Series of winners –
Ukhov: 215/1, 224/1, 231/1, 233/1, 235/3, 241/xxx.
Vlašić: 185/1, 190/1, 193/1, 198/1, 202/3, 206/2, 209/xxx.