Linus Thörnblad in Gothenburg (© Hasse Sjogren)
Brno, Czech Republic The fifth Moravia High Jump Tour series offers solid fields including 12 men with bests of 2.30 or more and 8 women with PB´s of 1.95m or more.
The line-ups include Russian 2.40m jumper Vyacheslav Voronin and three women who are 2m performers, Ariane Friedrich, Vita Palamar and Vita Styopina.
The top stars at first leg in Trinec on 21 January are Sweden’s Linus Thornblad and Ukrainian World Indoor medallist Vita Palamar. The Ukrainian has replaced the formerly announced Anna Chicherova, after the Russian decided not to compete indoors.
At the second event in Hustopece on 24 January the top names will be the aforementioned former World champion Voronin, German star Ariane Friedrich and Ukrainian Olympic heptathlon winner Natalya Dobrynska, and also the French record holder Melanie Skotnik.
These top names will not fight for overall 1000USD prize (men and women) as they will compete at only one meet. But there is a very solid group of jumpers competing at both events.
In the men’s category thress Russians, Andrey Tereshin the World Indoor medallist, Ivan Ukhov, and the up and coming Aleksandr Shustov, also take on Italian record holder Alessandro Talotti and all three top Czechs, Tomas Janku, Svatoslav Ton and Jaroslav Baba.
In the women’s section home athletes Iva Strakova and Barbora Lalakova along with Ukrainian 2004 Olympic medallist Vita Styopina and new Russian name Irina Gordeyeva (1.94m already this winter) and Canadian top name Nicole Forrester are the main favourites for the overall win.
The special guest star in Hustopece will be British old-timer Dalton Grant who wants to attack the World Masters’ indoor record of 2.12m.
Alfons Juck for the IAAF
Results at :
www.moravskavyskarskatour.cz
live at:
www.beskydskalatka.com (Trinec)
www.skakani.cz (Hustopece)
