Rare air indeed - Blanka Vlasic improves to 2.07 in Stockholm (© Hasse Sjogren)
World Champion Blanka Vlasic and Andrey Silnov won the traditional high jump meeting in Arnstadt (Germany), which saw its 32nd edition on Saturday.
The Croatian was the dominant figure in the women’s event, clearing all her heights at her first attempts – including the winning height of 2.03m. That was an improvement of her season’s best and world lead by two centimetres. The 24-year-old tried 2.06m twice but then retired from competition.
Olympic Champion Yelena Slesarenko took second place with a season’s best of 2.01m while Vita Palamar (Ukraine) was third (1.99). Germany’s new High Jump hope Ariane Freidrich, who had jumped two metres for the first time a week ago, had to be content with 1.96 m and fourth place.
Russia’s Andrey Silnov tied his personal best and improved his season’s best as well as his indoor best with a jump of 2.37m. The 23-year-old cleared this height at his second attempt, then missed 2.39 once and 2.41 m twice. Stefan Holm (Sweden) took second while Jaroslav Rybakov (Russia) was third. Both had jumped 2.35 m at their final attempts.
Jörg Wenig for the IAAF
NB: A more detailed report will be published on Sunday.
