Blanka Vlasic up and over 2.08m in Zagreb to become #2 all-time (© Zagreb organisers)
Competing in just her second meet of the year, Blanka Vlasic of Croatia cleared 2.06m at the 34th International High Jump Meeting in Arnstadt, Germany, today (6).
The clearance elevated Vlasic, the reigning World champion indoors and outdoors, another notch on the all-time list indoors, joining Stefka Kostadinova as No. 3 all-time. Only World record holder Kajsa Bergqvist (2.08m) of Sweden and former World record holder Heike Henkel (2.07m) have sailed higher indoors. Vlasic’s previous indoor best of 2.05m was set nearly four years ago, with subsequent clearances in 2008 and 2009.
Vlasic’s success came on her second attempt, after she required three tries at 2.02m. A third miss at the lower height would have meant a loss to Russian Svetlana Shkolina who improved her lifetime best to 2.00m, a height the Croatian chose to pass.
“On my first try at 2.06, the bar was shaking and shaking, and then fell,” Vlasic said. “But with the second everything was fine and I’m really happy.”
Vlasic, who was forced to skip scheduled appearances in New York and Gothenburg recently due to a virus, continued with three attempts at a would-be World record of 2.09m. One attempt was quite close, which pleased the 26-year-old. “I knew that I had the height,” she said.
Vlasic’s next appearance is slated for Wednesday night in Stockholm.
In the men’s competition, world leader Ivan Ukhov of Russia prevailed with a 2.35m clearance on his third attempt, before bowing out with three tries and 2.41m. His compatriot, the reigning World champion outdoors Yaroslav Rybakov, was second at 2.33m.
Bob Ramsak, Hrvoje Sliskovic (Zagreb Jutarnji List) and agencies for the IAAF
The clearance elevated Vlasic, the reigning World champion indoors and outdoors, another notch on the all-time list indoors, joining Stefka Kostadinova as No. 3 all-time. Only World record holder Kajsa Bergqvist (2.08m) of Sweden and former World record holder Heike Henkel (2.07m) have sailed higher indoors. Vlasic’s previous indoor best of 2.05m was set nearly four years ago, with subsequent clearances in 2008 and 2009.
Vlasic’s success came on her second attempt, after she required three tries at 2.02m. A third miss at the lower height would have meant a loss to Russian Svetlana Shkolina who improved her lifetime best to 2.00m, a height the Croatian chose to pass.
“On my first try at 2.06, the bar was shaking and shaking, and then fell,” Vlasic said. “But with the second everything was fine and I’m really happy.”
Vlasic, who was forced to skip scheduled appearances in New York and Gothenburg recently due to a virus, continued with three attempts at a would-be World record of 2.09m. One attempt was quite close, which pleased the 26-year-old. “I knew that I had the height,” she said.
Vlasic’s next appearance is slated for Wednesday night in Stockholm.
In the men’s competition, world leader Ivan Ukhov of Russia prevailed with a 2.35m clearance on his third attempt, before bowing out with three tries and 2.41m. His compatriot, the reigning World champion outdoors Yaroslav Rybakov, was second at 2.33m.
Bob Ramsak, Hrvoje Sliskovic (Zagreb Jutarnji List) and agencies for the IAAF
