Blanka Vlasic up and over 2.08m in Zagreb to become #2 all-time (© Zagreb organisers)
Banska Bystrica, SlovakiaWorld leaders Ivan Ukhov and Blanka Vlasic will lead their respective fields at the 17th edition of the Europa SC High Jump meeting in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, on 4 March.
For both jumpers this competition will serve as their final test before the World Indoor Championships in Doha, assuming that Ukhov will qualify at the notoriously difficult Russian championships the weekend before.
Vlasic, who scaled 2.03m at home in Split, Croatia, yesterday, won’t compete again until the Banska Bystrica, where she set the current meet record of 2.05m in 2006. Until her 2.06m leap earlier this month in Arnstadt, Germany, that mark was also the Croatian national record. This will be the reigning World indoor and outdoor champion’s fifth appearance here.
Ukhov, the world leader at 2.37m this season, will be chasing the meet record of the same height, set by Swede Stefan Holm in 2008.
Also confirmed for men’s competition is American Jesse Williams who last year achieved in Slovakia his PB of 2.36m, and new Finnish sensation Osku Torro who improved to 2.32m at the end of January.
In the women’s competition, among the athletes confirmed are Sweden’s current No. 1 Emma Green, who cleared 1.96 at this meeting in 2006, her second best indoor performance. Russian Viktoriya Klyugina, who has two-metre credentials, is also on the start list.
“I m feeling currently very well, and I had excellent preparation,” Vlasic said. “This is one of my best meetings so I hope to achieve another good mark in Slovakia.
“My goal indoors is Doha,” said Ukhov. “I also heard nice things about the good surface in Banska and would like to make a nice show there as this will be my first time there. My first aim will be to win, than to chase Holm’s meet record. And if all goes well, than I can try if I will have enough strength after the nationals, also at 241.”
Organisers for the IAAF
For both jumpers this competition will serve as their final test before the World Indoor Championships in Doha, assuming that Ukhov will qualify at the notoriously difficult Russian championships the weekend before.
Vlasic, who scaled 2.03m at home in Split, Croatia, yesterday, won’t compete again until the Banska Bystrica, where she set the current meet record of 2.05m in 2006. Until her 2.06m leap earlier this month in Arnstadt, Germany, that mark was also the Croatian national record. This will be the reigning World indoor and outdoor champion’s fifth appearance here.
Ukhov, the world leader at 2.37m this season, will be chasing the meet record of the same height, set by Swede Stefan Holm in 2008.
Also confirmed for men’s competition is American Jesse Williams who last year achieved in Slovakia his PB of 2.36m, and new Finnish sensation Osku Torro who improved to 2.32m at the end of January.
In the women’s competition, among the athletes confirmed are Sweden’s current No. 1 Emma Green, who cleared 1.96 at this meeting in 2006, her second best indoor performance. Russian Viktoriya Klyugina, who has two-metre credentials, is also on the start list.
“I m feeling currently very well, and I had excellent preparation,” Vlasic said. “This is one of my best meetings so I hope to achieve another good mark in Slovakia.
“My goal indoors is Doha,” said Ukhov. “I also heard nice things about the good surface in Banska and would like to make a nice show there as this will be my first time there. My first aim will be to win, than to chase Holm’s meet record. And if all goes well, than I can try if I will have enough strength after the nationals, also at 241.”
Organisers for the IAAF
