News21 Feb 2010


Vlasic scales 2.03m, threatens World record before a hometown crowd of 11,000 in Split

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Blanka Vlasic tops 2.03m before a packed house at home in Split (© Denis Boban)

Competing before an energized crowd of nearly 11,000, World champion Blanka Vlasic cleared 2.03m and made three solid attempts at a would-be World record of 2.09m at the Slobodna Dalmacija Women’s High Jump Meeting in her hometown of Split, Croatia on Sunday (21).

“I'm very satisfied with the outcome because this time there was no excuse for a bad result,” said Vlasic, whose winning leap added a centimetre to the meeting record she set last year. “The pressure was enormous but it was positive.”

For the second consecutive year, the crowd assembled at the Spaladium Arena was one of the largest of indoor season. For a single-event meeting, it was the second largest in history, behind only last year’s capacity gathering of more than 12,000 at the same venue.

“Every time, I'm surprised by how good the atmosphere is in the Spaladium,” said, Vlasic who moved up into a tie for the No. 3 spot all-time with her 2.06m leap in Arnstadt on 6 February. “The atmosphere was crazy, my hands and legs were shaking. I tried to stay cool and think about my technique and not give in to the atmosphere.”

Opening at 1.86m, she continued with first go clearances at 1.92m and 1.95, before passing 1.97 and going straight to 2.00m. With ample room, she sailed clear on her first attempt. Her first attempt clearance at 2.03m was closer but still clean. But her technique improved markedly when the bar was raised to a World indoor record of 2.09m.

She hit the bar on the way up on her first effort, but was considerably closer with her second, a leap which appeared to be good enough to clear 2.06m. Her third attempt was the best of all. And all things considered, Vlasic was pleased.

“At 2.09, I had very good attempts technically, but I couldn't adjust to the surface, which is hard, and new. I still need to gain some strength for the world record. But this was a good exercise for the next time.”

I want to jump the world record,” she continued, “but I won't despair if I don't. Winning is important, everything else is a bonus. My form is improving, and it will get better.”

The “positive pressure” from the crowd was a necessary boost since there was little from the competition. The distant runner-up was Russian Svetlana Shkolina, who, like Vlasic, entered the competition at 1.86m. After successive first attempt clearances at 1.89m, 1.92m and 1.95m, couldn’t manage 1.97m. The former World youth and World junior medallist cleared 2.00m in Arnstadt earlier this month.

Swede Emma Green edged Vikki Hubbard of Great Britain for third on countback with both topping out at 1.92m.

Bob Ramsak (with assistance by Hrvoje Sliskovic) for the IAAF

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