by Larry Eder
Gianmarco Tambieri, photo by PhotoRun.net
Marco Fassinotti, photo by PhotoRun.netItalian evening twice 235 WL, NR
BANSKA BYSTRICA (SVK, Feb 4): Capacity crowd at 22nd Banska Bystrica High jump meet saw a spectacular men competition. Top two cleared World leading 235, also two Italian indoor records. Gianmarco Tamberi in his first meet of the year achieved right in first attempt 235 also his indoor best. But Marco Fassinotti followed him in second attempt also 235, for him overall PB. After two unsuccesful attempts Tamberi passed last one and tried as confirmed winner one time for 240. Third Donald Thomas achieved also in first meet of the season 233 and Robbie Grabarz returned to top shape with also 233. Fifth Matus Bubenik got 230 and tried at new slovak record height 233. Sixth Konstadinos Baniotis also in first competition of the season got over 230 and had very close attempts at 233. “I did not expect in first meet such a result, but I love it here. One of the best surfaces, will be back next year to attack 240,” said Tamberi.
In women competition the positive sensation was Doreen Amata from Nigeria who won with new national indoor record 193 and tried at WL and African indoor record height 198. Second Sofie Skoog of Sweden improved his indoor PB to 191 (as her coach Stefan Holm watched her from the stands) and third Czech world junior leader Michaela Hruba also 191 but had very good attempts at 193. Favorite and World leader Airine Palsyte was the negative sensation of the day with only 180 and 9th position. “I do not understand what happened. I did not cope with the surface, but that is not an excuse, need to analyse it,” she said after getting out at 185.
Editor’s note: An amazing moment for Italian athletes. Both Fassinotti and Tambieri are fine jumpers, coming into their prime. Watch how they jump the rest of indoor season as they built for European Champs (July) and Rio 2016 (August). Watch for these guys to get over 2.40m this season.
