Svetlana Feofanova clears a 4.70m competitions record at the IAAF / VTB Bank Continental Cup in Split (© Getty Images)
The competition got off to a slow start as the two African team members negotiated the lower heights, after which a long wait ensued as the uprights were adjusted for the other competitors. But things soon heated up as the bar went from 4.20m to 4.35m, a height at which World Indoor Champion Fabiana Murer needed three attempts to clear.
Murer was having a rare off-day and struggled at 4.50m and 4.60m – heights which the young Lisa Ryzih sailed over, taking a surprise lead and equalling Elena Isinbayeva’s Competition Record set four years ago. European Champion Svetlana Feofanova also safely negotiated both heights and a European 1-2 looked almost certain as Murer passed to 4.70m.
The Brazilian duly failed at that height, leaving Team Europe to take maximum points, but there was still the question of who would take the victory – and the $30,000 prize money.
With just a small handful of spectators left in the stadium, Feofanova made their perseverance worthwhile and cleared 4.70m on her third attempt, becoming the outright holder of the Competition Record. Ryzih’s attempts at this height were half-hearted and she had to settle for second place.
Li Caixa of China set a personal best of 4.50m for fourth, while Becky Holliday of Team Americas and Alana Boyd of Asia Pacific had to settle for 4.35m in fifth and sixth respectively.
Jon Mulkeen for the IAAF
Murer was having a rare off-day and struggled at 4.50m and 4.60m – heights which the young Lisa Ryzih sailed over, taking a surprise lead and equalling Elena Isinbayeva’s Competition Record set four years ago. European Champion Svetlana Feofanova also safely negotiated both heights and a European 1-2 looked almost certain as Murer passed to 4.70m.
The Brazilian duly failed at that height, leaving Team Europe to take maximum points, but there was still the question of who would take the victory – and the $30,000 prize money.
With just a small handful of spectators left in the stadium, Feofanova made their perseverance worthwhile and cleared 4.70m on her third attempt, becoming the outright holder of the Competition Record. Ryzih’s attempts at this height were half-hearted and she had to settle for second place.
Li Caixa of China set a personal best of 4.50m for fourth, while Becky Holliday of Team Americas and Alana Boyd of Asia Pacific had to settle for 4.35m in fifth and sixth respectively.
Jon Mulkeen for the IAAF
