Tereshin (l), Ukhov (c), Thornblad in Trinec (© beskydskalatka.com)
Russian Ivan Ukhov leapt a 2.33m world indoor season lead in front of a packed audience of some 2000 at a Sports Hall in the Northern Moravian steel city of Trinec.
The 22-year-old Russian’s jump took the victory at the 17th Beskydska latka competition which was first leg of 5th Moravia High Jump Tour.
Ukhov’s 2.33 came via a first time clearance which established not only a new world lead (2.31 by Andrey Tereshin last week in Ostrava) but a meeting record (former 2.32 by Jaroslav Baba in 2004).
Interestingly throughout the evening the Russian was flying high but falling on the bar and had second jumps at 2.20, 2.27 and 2.30.
Even when clear at 2.33 Ukhov was still not the certain winner as his Russian rival and 2006 World Indoor silver medallist Andrey Tereshin, 26, after a first time failure skipped his last two attempts at 2.33. The crowd then witnessed five attempts in total by Ukhov and Tereshin at 2.35, at which neither succeeded.
"I had very good training recently, so I must admit I expected an even better result," said Ukhov. His winning series: 2.15/1, 2.20/2, 2.24/1, 2.27/2, 2.30/2, 2.33/1, 2.35/xxx.
Tereshin remained second with 2.30 and Sweden’s star Linus Thornblad ended third with 2.27 after very close attempts at 2.30. Also fighting for top places was Russian Alexander Shustov who saved himself with third attempt at 2.27 but then had good tries at 2.30 and finished fourth (2.27).
The best of the local jumpers was Jaroslav Baba who as fifth with 2.24, after that he tried once 2.27 and then twice 2.30. Tomas Janku made his farewell at the event during his last indoor season with 2.20 for seventh.
There was more drama in the women’s competition. Czech World and Olympic finalist Iva Strakova jumped 1.92m on her third try - the Czech qualification standard for this winter’s European Indoor champs in Turin – and she was followed by 2004 Olympic medallist Vita Styopina of Ukraine who also cleared that height and so a jump-off followed. Both athletes missed 1.94 and 1.92, but at 1.90 Styopina had more power and secured the win.
World Indoor medallist from Valencia Vita Palamar of Ukraine was third with 1.89 and had one close jump at 1.92.
The second leg of the Moravia High Jump Tour will take place on Saturday (24) in Hustopece and will see a battle for the overall tour win between Strakova and Styopina and between Russians Ukhov, Tereshin and Shustov. The overall winner will be determined by counting two results together.
In the men’s division Thornblad is not competing, but a new addition will be 1999 World outdoor champion Vyacheslav Voronin. In women’s field a new addition German world season leader Ariane Friedrich and French record holder Melanie Skotnik.
Alfons Juck for the IAAF
