Thirteen jumpers reached the automatic qualifying standard of 1.94, five of them without failing at all during the competition. Yulia Lyakhova (Russia), Alina Astafei (Germany), Hanne Haugland (Norway), Kajsa Bergqvist (Sweden) and Hestrie Storbeck (South Africa) all got through without a miss.
With 1.94, Storbeck equalled her own world leading junior mark. Inga Babakova (Ukraine), Britta Bilac (Slovenia), Monica Iagar (Romania) and Antonella Bevilacqua (Italy) also qualified for the final.
Pia Zinck (Denmark) jumped a national record of 1.94 to qualify, but 1996 Olympic silver medallist, Niki Bakogianni (Greece) failed at the same height, jumping only 1.92, and was left out of the final. Zuzana Kovacikova (Czech Republic), a 1.96 performer this year, also didn't make it. She jumped 1.85.
Another non-qualifier, Solange Witteween (Argentina), equalled the South American Record of 1.92.
