Yaroslav Rybakov of Russia on his way to winning the gold medal in the High Jump final (© Getty Images)
Russia’s World Indoor champion from Moscow last year, Yaroslav Rybakov, won the prestigious High Jump meeting in Arnstadt on Saturday (3).
The 26-year-old World outdoor silver medallist jumped 2.38m to establish a new meeting record, while in the women's competition the reigning European Indoor champion Anna Chicherova (Russia) took the victory with 1.98m. Looking at the start lists Arnstadt arguably was so far the season’s best quality indoor High Jump line-up.
Rybakov delivers
A year ago the women’s competition produced a sensational outcome when Kajsa Bergqvist of Sweden broke the indoor World record with 2.08m. This time the men’s event delivered the premier result. It was a Russian affair in the end when Yaroslav Rybakov and European outdoor champion Andrey Silnov battled for victory while Olympic gold medallist Stefan Holm of Sweden had to settle for third with 2.34m.
Eventually Rybakov jumped 2.38m with which he improved by 1cm the meeting record he and fellow Russian Ivan Ukhov had set last year, and tied his personal best from 2005. Silnov took second place with 2.36m. In the history of the meeting these were the 12th and 13th results higher than 2.35m!
Ukhov, who had jumped 2.39m on 29 January in Moscow for a world indoor season lead, had to be content with 2.31m for fourth place. Victor Moya (Cuba/2.31) and Tomas Janku (Czech Republic/2:31) took the next places.
Rybakov also had very good tries at 2.41m.
"Everything went according to the plan. Finally I was able to jump technically well. I was very close at 241,“ said Rybakov.
Chicherova only one clear at 1.98
There was disappointment for Bergqvist a year after her World indoor record. Looking fine at 1.95m she then failed to clear 1.98m. This was still good enough for second place ahead of third placed Blanka Vlasic of Croatia, Olympic champion and World Indoor gold medallist Yelena Slesarenko of Russia in fourth, and Nicole Forrester (Canada/fifth place), who all cleared 1.95m as well. Meanwhile, Anna Chicherova improved her season’s best and was the only one to clear 1.98m this time.
Jörg Wenig for the IAAF
Full results (from Alfons Juck)
Men:
1. Rybakov, RUS 2.38 MR, equalled PB (220/1, 225/1, 228/1, 231/1, 234/2, 236/1, 238/2, 241/xxx),
2. Silnov, RUS 2.36 indoor PB,
3. Holm, SWE 2.34,
4. Ukhov, RUS 2.31,
5. Moya, CUB 2.31 – indoor PB,
6. T. Janku, CZE 2.31,
7. Sokolovskiy, UKR 2.28,
8. Harris, USA and Thornblad, SWE 2.25,
10. Kgosiemang, BOT 2.25,
11. Onnen, GER and Ton, CZE 2.25
Women:
1. Chicherova,RUS 1.98 (180/1, 185/1, 189/1, 192/1, 195/1, 198/2, 201/xxx),
2. Bergqvist, SWE 1.95,
3. Vlasic, CRO 1.95,
4. Slesarenko, RUS 1.95,
5. Forrester, CAN 1.95 PB,
6. Friedrich, GER and Green,SWE 1.92,
8. Hartmann, GER 1.89
