Ekaterini Stefanidi, of Greece, won gold on countback from Venezuela’s Keisa Monterola after the two pre-event favourites both cleared a championship record 4.30m.
The previous best mark had stood at 4.10m, to Russia’s Yelena Isinbayeva, who ironically set a world senior record the same day.
Stefanidi had a shaky start, failing her opening at height of 3.90m at the first attempt. However, she got back on track with first-time clearances at 4.00m, 4.10m, 4,15m, 4.20m, 4.25m and 4.30m.
Both Stefanidi and Monterola failed three times at a new world youth best of 4.35m but it was ultimately Monterola’s one failure at each of 4.15m and 4.30m that was her undoing.
China’s Shuo Yu was third after attaining a best height of 4.20m.
Germany’s Elizaveta Rysih, the world junior champion who was attempting to become the first person to defend a world youth title, was only fifth with 4.05m.
