News27 Jan 2010


Vlasic debuts with 2.01m in Trinec

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Blanka Vlasic debuts with 2.01m in Trinec (© organisers)

Trinec, Czech RepublicTwotime World champion Blanka Vlasic kicked off her season with a 2.01m winning leap to highlight the 18th Beskydska Latka High Jump meeting in Trinec, Czech Republic on Tuesday (26).

Competing before a capacity crowd ovf more than 2000 who turned out a frigid evening, the Croatian star, who is also the reigning World champion indoors, produced a perfect score card through her first attempt clearance at 2.01m, an early season world lead and a meet record. She continued at 2.03m and despite three solid attempts, it proved too much in her first competition of the year.

Vlasic was satisfied afterwards.

"It is always tough with the first meet so I'm satisfied with two metres," she said. "I have many weeks of hard training behind me and I needed to work a lot on my technique. But it will come. Here at the end I was tired."

Vlasic competes next in Goteborg on 2 February.

Chaunte Howard of the USA was second at 1.92, and was the overall Moravian High Jump tour winner.

European indoor champion Ivan Ukhov won for the second time in as many outings on this tour. Though not quite as sharp as in Hustopece on Saturday (23) when he opened his season with a 2.37m clearance, his second attempt success at 2.34m was enough to take the victory over rising American talent Dusty Jonas.

Ukhov's first miss didn't come until 2.32m, which required a second try. After upping his own meeting record to 2.34m, he bowed out with three tries at 2.38m, which were not as close as his attemps at 2.41m in Hustopece.

"With these kinds of results I must be satisfied with my season's start," he said. "I was very tired here, but the season is only starting. Next goals? Now some rest, then I must qualify at our nationals and if that works, then Doha," for the World Indoor Championships.

Jonas competed without a miss through 2.30m, before mastering 2.32m on his thir attempt, a new indoor career best for the 23-year-old former NCAA champion.

Alfons Juck for the IAAF

Leading Results -
Men:
 1. Ivan Ukhov, RUS        2.34
 2. Dusty Jonas, USA       2.32
 3. Dmitriy Demyanyuk, UKR 2.27
 4. Jaroslav Baba, CZE     2.27
 5. Wojciech Theiner, POL  2.23
 6. Jamie Nieto, USA       2.19
...

Women:
 1. Blanka Vlasic, CRO      2.01
 2. Chaunte Howard, USA     1.92
 3. Kamila Stepaniuk, POL   1.90
 4. Iva Strakova, CZE       1.90
 5. Laverne Spencer, LCA    1.87
 6. Barbora Lalakova, CZE   1.87
 7. Oldriska Maresova, CZE  1.87
...

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