Zagreb, Croatia - The dreamy image seen on billboards advertising the 56th Hanzekovic Memorial throughout the Croatian capital featured an unidentified women’s high jumper, and it was a high jumper that a capacity crowd of vociferous fans packed the Sportspark Mladost to see. And the country’s biggest star, Blanka Vlasic, delivered.

The 22-year-old capped the evening with a second attempt clearance at 2.01 to defeat a pair of the world’s leading jumpers, Sweden’s World champion Kajsa Bergqvist and Venelina Veneva of Bulgaria.

“It was really nice to win at home, especially with such tough competition,” said Vlasic, who defeated the Swede on the countback while each added a centimetre to the meet record held jointly by four women, the two of them included. “It was a good decision not to jump in Brussels last weekend,” Vlasic added, noting that her 13th competition of the year at over two metres is a total that only World record holder Stefka Kostadinova has surpassed in a single year.

Clearly on form, Vlasic was the lone jumper to cruise through 1.98 without a blemish, before needing a second try at 2.01. Bergqvist needed three at both 1.98 and 2.01, while Veneva, the European Championships silver medallist and winner at Zurich, needed a pair at both 1.94 and 1.98. 2.04 proved too high, though Vlasic was pleased with one relatively close effort.

In fierce battle, Lysenko over Heidler in the hammer

The meeting opened under warm and clear blue skies with a fierce battle in the women’s Hammer Throw between World record holder Tatyana Lysenko of Russia and German star Betty Heidler. In a competition of the highest level, both threw beyond 76 metres, with Lysenko, the European champion ultimately gaining the upper hand with a 76.54 best.

The Russian opened with a 73.18 effort, one Heidler surpassed with a 74.29 in the second round to take the lead. In a seesaw contest, Lysenko reclaimed the lead with a third round 74.54, before Heidler stole the show two rounds later with a massive 76.11 meeting record, not far from her 76.55 national record. It was a lead - and venue record - that proved short-lived. Throwing immediately after the German, Lysenko responded with her 76.54 heave to wrestle back the lead. Heidler still had enough wind in her sails to close with a notable 75.72 in the final round, but not enough to catch the Russian giant.

Yipsi Moreno, Cuba’s 2004 Olympic silver medallist and two-time World Athletics Final winner, was a distant third with a 72.56 best, just ahead of Poland’s Kamila Skolimowska (72.36).

Narrow win for Johnson over Robles

The signature event of the meeting is the men’s 110m Hurdles memorial race, named to honour Croatian inter-war hurdler Boris Hanzekovic. And it was a thriller, won by Allen Johnson in 13.19 by the narrowest of margins over the young Cuban sensation Dayron Robles.

“I’m extremely happy with the way things have progressed this season,” said Johnson after his narrow .01 victory in this his fourth race since an injury knocked him out of the U.S. championships in June. And he was pleased as well with the reception he received.

“I’ve been around on the circuit now for about 13 or 14 years,” the 36-year-old multi World champion said, “and I can honestly say that I’ve never had more fun with the fans than I did tonight.”

American David Oliver was impressive with his 13.23 performance for third, just shy of his 13.20 personal best from two days ago in Dubnica, Slovakia.

The women’s sprint hurdles produced a close race as well, with Cuban Anay Tejeda besting Canada’s 2003 World champion Perdita Felicien, 12.75 to 12.78. Olympic champion Joanna Hayes was third in 12.85, while American Lolo Jones didn’t finish after a stumble just beyond the midway point.

Meet record for Stambolova

With the homecoming of World junior champion Danijela Grgic, the women’s 400 attracted plenty of local interest. She wasn’t expected to win, but with her lightning fast start, the 17-year-old might have had other ideas. But that early race excitement eventually caught up with her, As Bulgaria’s European champion Vanya Stambolova ate up the deficit the Croatian created by the time she entered the final bend, to cruise to a cozy 50.37 victory. American Dee Dee Trotter passed the fading Grgic midway through the final turn to take second in 50.88, while the Croatian held on for third (51.80).

Making his move with 250 metres to go, Shadrack Korir kicked past Briton Mo Farah to win the 3000 in 7:37.50. 18-year-old Joseph Ebuya continued his strong rookie campaign, finishing second (7:37.65) as he followed Korir through the final bend for a Kenyan 1-2, while Farah held on for third (7:37.65).

About 40 metres from the finish of the women’s 800, it appeared that Slovenia’s Brigita Langerholc was well on her way to victory. Resisting Russian Svetlana Cherkasova’s home straight charge, Langerholc held her ground on the inside, but in the meantime, Svetlana Klyuka burst by on the outside to steal the win in 2:00.77. The Slovenian crossed the line second ahead of Cherkasova, 2:01.01 to 2:01.32

While the meeting began in warm, inviting conditions, temperatures dropped rapidly as the sun set, dramatically affecting the sprints.

American Jason Smoots took a narrow win in the 100 over double European champion Francis Obikwelu of Portugal, each stopping the clock in 10.22. Matic Osovnikar of Slovenia, third at the European championships, repeated that finish here, reaching the line in 10.35.

Usain Bolt took the 200 by a sizeable margin in 20.49, with Trinidad’s Jacey Harper second in 20.65.

Bahamian Debbie Ferguson held off European champion Kim Gevaert to take the women’s 100 in 11.26 to the Belgian’s 11.31, with American 100m Hurdles champion Virginia Powell third 11.31. But Ferguson, winner of the short dash in Ostrava and Oslo earlier this summer, was denied a dash double by Stephanie Durst, who fended off the Bahamian’s closing surge 22.95 to 22.97.

Danny McFarlane took command of the men’s 400m Hurdles early on, and was never strongly threatened en route to his 48.93 victory. Fellow Jamaican Kemel Thompson (49.34) looked to have the runner-up spot sewn up some 40 metres from the finish, but was nearly caught by American James Carter (49.35) over the final barrier.

Brandon Simpson took an easy win in the 400 in 45.73, comfortably ahead of Alleyne Francique of Grenada. Olympic bronze medallist Derrick Brew of the U.S. was third (46.11). In the men’s Long Jump, none of the competitors reached eight metres, with Gable Garenamotse (7.87) of Botswana the closest.

Yumileidi Cumba lead a Cuban 1-2 finish in the Shot Put, her 19.22 the only toss beyond the 19 metre mark, to easily defeat Misleydis Gonzalez (18.84). Russia’s European champion Darya Pishchalnikova took control of the Discus Throw competition with her 63.66 throw in the third round, but Romanian Nicoleta Grasu made it tantalizingly close with her final round 63.64, just two centimeters shy of stealing the win. Czech Vera Cechlova was third (61.57).