by Larry Eder
HUSTOPECE
(CZE, Jan 29): Unbelievable display of shape of Russian World Indoor
Champion and Diamond League winner Ivan Ukhov in Southern part of
Moravia in the Czech Republic. In his first competition of the season
and the second leg of Moravia High Jump Tour before packed hall (800
people) he mastered in second attempt world leading and meet record of
238 cm. Then he went directly to world indoor record of 244 cm and first
two and mainly second attempt were realistically close. And that
happened before the eyes of current record holder Javier Sotomayor who
was star guest at the event. Ukhov confirmed his is in top shape when he
asked in the warm-up that the bar will be at 230 and he cleared it
easily. In the competition he started at 220 and after one technical
miss he went to easy 224, passed 227 and again easy over 230. Again
passed 232 and mastered in first 234. Then his show continued with 238
second attempt very nice clearance. “I knew I m in very good shape. I
had the feeling I could do it, that is why I went directly to world
record. I think it will be possible in near future. I just need to work
on some technical issues,” said Ukhov who plans to jump now at Moscow
Cup special HJ meet on February 3, Russian Winter on February 6 and
Banska Bystrica in Slovakia on February 9. This Russian evening showed
Aleksey Dmitrik clearing 232 in second attempt (he did not continue
afterwards due to fatigue). European Champion Aleksandr Shustov had very
close misses at 232 and was third with 230. Fourth another Russian
Sergey Mudrov with easy 227 and close misses at 230, the same for 2007
World Champion Donald Thomas who fighted with his approach and still
managed nice 227.
third attempt to win on Saturday evening. Then she tried to went over
world leading two meters but was not succesfull. “I wanted badly today
two metres, but did not manage. I hope next time, maybe when my coach
Klyugin would be here, he would give the right advice to do it,” said
Shkolina. Young talent Mariya Kuchina went over 194 in first and
confirmed her sensational improvement from last Wednesday in Trinec. She
had close misses at 196 but is overall series winner. Israeli Danielle
Frenkel twice improved the national indoor record with 187 and 190.
After two close misses at 192 she tried once at 194. Legendary Yelena
Slesarenko returned to indoor international scene after three years with
187. Sweden´s Emma Green injured in her first attempt at 180 and could
not continue. After visiting the hospital it was confirmed as ankle
muscle strain.
1. Ukhov, RUS 238 MR, WL (220x, 224/1, 230/1, 234/1, 239/2, 244/xxx),
2. Dmitrik, RUS 232, 3.Shustov, RUS 230, 4. Mudrov, RUS 227, 5. Thomas,
BAH 227, 6t. Barry, BAH and Baba, CZE 224, 8. Ninov, BUL 224, 9t.
Owczarek, POL, Milokumov, RUS, Horak, SVK, N. Ciotti, ITA all 220, 13.
Kroyter, ISR 220, 14. Moya, CUB 215
194/1, 196/3, 200/xxx), 2. Kuchina, RUS 194, 3. Frenkel, ISR 190 MR, 4t.
Simic, CRO and Slesarenko, RUS 187, 6. Strakova, CZE 187, 7. Maresova,
CZE 187, 8. Francis, JAM 184, 9. Stepaniuk, POL 184, 10. Ustinova, KAZ
184, 11. Kufaas, NOR 180, 12. Dubnova, CZE 175, Green, SWE injured nm,
Brambilla, ITA nc (fever)
