Chicherova clears 2.00m and Tries for 2.04m, by Alfons Juck, note by Larry Eder

CHICHEROVA 200 AND TRIES FOR 204

BANSKA BYSTRICA (SVK, Feb 8): In the women's competition, Anna Chicherova of Russia won as expected with a height of 2.00.  The Olympic champion saw her last remaining rival, Belgium's Tia Hellebaut, depart the competition at 1.98 and was jumping alone after that. Tonight's competition came only four days after the Daegu world champion jumped a world-leading (and personal-best) 2.06 in the Arnstadt competition.  Her night was blemish-free through the deciding height of 1.98, with prior clearances at 1.85, 1.90 and 1.96.  When the pressure was finally off she had a momentary lapse with a first-jump miss at 2.00.  But that was quickly corrected with a powerful clearance with much space to spare. Moving the bar to 2.04, the Russian ended the evening with three creditable but unsuccessful jumps. „I wanted the 204 but was simply too tired after the Russian record, but crowd was excellent and I will return here," said Chicerova. Hellebaut, returning to action this season after maternity leave, sagged a bit at 1.93 and needed three attempts.  But she summoned reserve energy at 1.96 with a first-try success to secure second place. Chaunté Lowe likewise used a first-jump clearance at 1.93 to take third place ahead of Antonietta DiMartino on a countback. Lowe had close attempts at 196. Very interesting close attempts also for young Italian Trost at new would be Italian junior record height of 193. Top three are mothers of together 5 daughters.  Results: Women: 1.         Chicherova (RUS) 2.00 [1.85 - 1.90 - 1.96 - 1.98 - 2.00/2 - 2.04/xxx];  2.  Hellebaut (BEL) 1.96;  3. Lowe (USA) 1.93;  4. DiMartino (ITA) 1.93;  5. Trost (ITA) 1.90;  6. Spencer (LCA) 1.85;  7. Melfort (FRA) 1.85;  8. Dobrynska (UKR) 1.80;  9. Kuntsevich (RUS) 1.80;  10. Silnicova (CZE) 1.75.