Blanka Vlasic sails over 2.04 at a meeting at her hometown of Split (© Vladimir Dugandzic)
Split, CroatiaWorld High Jump champion Blanka Vlasic continued her best ever season start with a 2.04m clearance and another victory at the “International Meeting Split 2009” organized by her home club ASK Split. This came only eight days after she opened her outdoor season with a 2.05m world-leading leap at the Super Grand Prix in Doha.
After struggling with her technique at 2.02 where she needed all three attempts, Vlasic put all her effort into an excellent first attempt clearance at 2.04m which was a new meeting record and the second best result of the season. Her characteristic “Yeaaaah!!!” after her successful jump illustrated how much she wanted that result.
“It was sign of the relief, also,” said the Olympic silver medallist. “I must admit that I have never jumped so high at this stadium, not even during practice.”
Afterwards, she attempted to improve upon her own world lead but lacked the power to fly over 2.06. However, this is a great result for such an early part of the season.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect such a good result,” she said. “Yes, I jumped over 2.05 last week in Doha but the track at Park Mladeži stadium (Youth Park) is quite soft and more suitable for practice sessions, not for competitions. I didn’t get that momentum which is needed for the best results.”
Vlasic – ‘I’m better than ever’
Once again it was “Blanka vs. the bar” and not “Blanka against competitors” because the only other international jumpers, Viktorya Dobrynska from Ukraine and Barbora Lalakova from Czech Republic, finished the competition before Vlasic made her first jump of the evening. They both cleared 1.80m, then failed to jump over 1.84, while Vlasic opened at 1.88m.
“I am very satisfied although I was searching for my technique throughout the whole competition. I told you before the season that I am better than ever and these two competitions are proving that.”
Vlasic’s next competition will be at the EAA meeting in Thessaloniki on 10 June.
“These three weeks of preparation will help me a lot because only then the real season starts,” Vlasic said.
Hrvoje Sliškovic (Jutarnji list) for IAAF
