Blanka Vlasic tops 2.00m on Split's seaside Riva (© Hrvoje Sliskovic)
Split, CroatiaRising to the occasion on home turf, Blanka Vlasic produced a world-leading 2.00m leap at the 5th Slobodna Dalmacija Women’s High Jump competition in Split, Croatia, on Friday (24).
Competing before a crowd estimated at more than 5000 on the city’s seaside Riva promenade, the 2010 World Athlete of the Year twice improved her previous world lead of 1.97m, first to 1.98m and then again to 2.00m, both with her second attempts.
“I showed everybody that New York had nothing to do with reality,” Vlasic said, referring to her defeat two weeks ago that snapped her undefeated streak in Samsung Diamond League competition. “I told myself I have to jump over two metres and win. This victory is a sign that everything is going in the right direction.”
Vlasic, the two-time defending World champion, ended the day with three attempts at 2.02m, a pair of them reasonably close, and technically, according to Vlasic, her best of the day. Before her final attempt at the height, she received some quick medical treatment on her knee.
“Everything is hurting, my ankle, my eye, my knee. In my first warm-up jump I twisted an ankle a bit. It didn’t hurt much, just a little irritated. I don’t know what is with my knee, but I think it’s nothing serious.”
Venelina Veneva of Bulgaria was second at 1.98m, also better than the previous 2011 world best. Russian Svetlana Shkolina, a two metre jumper outdoors last year and indoors this year, was third at 1.96m, also a season’s best.
Bob Ramsak and Hrvoje Sliskovic (in Split) for the IAAF
Results:
1. Blanka Vlasic (CRO) 2.00m
2. Venelina Veneva (BUL) 1.98m
3. Svetlana Shkolina (RUS) 1.96m
4. Ana Simic (CRO) 1.91m
5. Tatyana Mnatsakanova (RUS) 1.91m
6. Tonje Angelsen (NOR) 1.88m
7. Ebba Jungmark (SWE) 1.84m
7. Danielle Frenkel (ISR) 1.84m
8. Eyunn Grindem (SWE) 1.84m
