old Tatyana Kotova of Russia finally managed to grab victory at the IAAF World Athletics Final here in Monaco after she finished second in the previous two editions.
World silver medallist in Helsinki, Kotova took top honours with a 6.83m performance in the last round and secured the 30,000$ pay cheque. With Kotova actually jumping first the competition was virtually over when the three-time World silver medallist opened with 6.78m, a mark which would have been sufficient to win today.
2003 World bronze medallist Anju Bobby George of India was second with a season’s best 6.75m and US champion Grace Upshaw was whose best effort today was 6.67m finished third.
Bobby George who qualified for the World Athletics Final only last week when she improved two spots in the Long Jump Event World Rankings, was lucky to step on the podium as she clearly seemed to have problems with her run-up and fouled three of her four attempts.
One who didn’t have problems with the board today was Olympic champion Tatyana Lebedeva; however the 2005 Golden League Jackpot winner didn’t find the momentum today and could only manage a best of 6.49m. The Russian was eventually fifth just two centimetres behind 2003 World champion and World Athletics Final winner Eunice Barber.
Reigning World champion Tianna Madison of the US did not take part in the competition today.
LA
