2018 AJC Peachtree Road Race presents Moment of Larry, Day One, World Indoors, March 1, 2018, Danil Lysenko wins gold medal on one final last gasp jump!

The high jump is one of the world's oldest sporting events. In Babylon, some three thousand years ago, children played a game where they jumped over their friends' chain of hands, connected together and as the heights went higher, the quality of the jumping increased. In 19th century England, the modern high jump was part of meetings in the 1860s and 1870s. That sense of history gives the sport a certian culture that fascinates athletes and fans, and bores others.

In the spirit of innovation, the LOC and the IAAF put on simultaneous high jumps, for the both the Men's and Women's High Jumps. A women would jump, then, a man would jump.

Mutaz Essa Barshim, clearing the high jump bar, photo by PhotoRun.net

The crowd of five thousand watched as the finest high jumpers in the world battled, one height at a time.

In the women's high jump, Mariya Lasitskene, the World Champion from 2018, and an athlete from Russia who competes as a Non Affiliated athlete, is the finest jumper in the world, having cleared 2.06 meters last year. Her jumping is sublime and many think she can break the world record. Vashti Cunningham, the 19 year old who is the future of the event, is the three time US indoor champion, as well as World Indoor Champion from 2016 and US outdoor champion in 2017.

On the men's side, 2018 World Champion Mutaz Essa Barshim, the man who has cleared 2.40 meters and 2.38 meters last year, took on the world. Erik Kynard, the five time US indoor champion, London 2012 silver medalist, plus Danil Lysenko, the 2014 World Youth Champion, and 2017 London World Silver medalist, behind Barshim, were in the field. Robbie Graberz, the top British jumper, London 2012 Olympic bronze, Slywester Bednarek, 2009 World bronze medalist.

The two best jumps in 2018 are Mutaz Essa Barshim, at 2.38 meters, and Danil Lysenko, a Non Affiliated athlete, from Russia, who had cleared 2.37 meters.

Prior to the event the progression of the jumping was arrived at, and the progression was going to be 2.20 meters, 2.25 meters, 2.29 meters, 2.33 meters and 2.36 meters.

Mutaz Essa Barshim is from Qatar. He is an elegant jumper, with speed, and ferocity. The mild mannered man we see in interviews, is focused, fast and emotional when he throws. He cleared 2.20 meters, 2.25 meters, 2.29 meters, 2.33 meters on first attempts.

It was a very strange competition.

At 2.20 meters. Robbie Graberz, GBR, Timon Ivanhov, Bulgaria, Jamal Wilson, Bahamas all needed three jumps to clear 2.20 meters, the opening height.

All three also missed all three times at 2.25 meters, and they were out.

Three more joined them, as Yu Wang, China, Donald Thomas, BAH, and Maksim Nedasekau, Belarus all cleared 2.20 meters on their first attempts, they also missed all three attempts at the next height, 2.25 meters.

Slywester Bednarek, Poland, the 2017 Indoor European Champion, cleared 2.20 meters on his second attempt, 2.25 meters on his first attempt, and missed all three times at 2.29 meters, putting him in fifth place.

Erik Kynard, Jr. the five time US indoor champion, cleared 2.20 meters on his first attempt, 2.25 meters was cleared on his first attempt, and took three attempts at 2.29 meters to clear that third progression. His nemesis came at 2.33 meters, which he tried three times, and did not clear, finishing fourth.

Germanys' Mateusz Przybylko, the German indoor champion, was fun to watch as his physical approach and his enthusiasm, were popular with the fans. Przybylko cleared 2.20 meters on two attempts, 2.25 meters on three attempts, 2.29 on two attempts, then, missed at 2.33 meters three times. The Germa took the bronze medal.

Now, it got interesting.

Like Mutaz Barshim, Danil Lysenko cleared 2.20 meters, 2.25 meters, 2.29 meters, and 2.33 meters, all on their first attempts.

The Moment of Larry, that life changing moment came at the 2.36 meter height.

Barshim looked great, but, 2.36 meters was a challenge, he could not clear the height after three attempts.

Danil Lysenko, the makings of a new world champion, photo by PhotoRun.net

Danil Lysenko, the silver medalist from 2017, missed his first two attempts at 2.36 meters.

Before Lysenko's final attempt, the announcers told the fans that, " If Lysenko clears this height, he takes the gold, if not, then there will be a jump-off."

What goes through an athletes' mind when they must re-assess their limits? Remember, Lysenko had cleared 2.37 meters, so the 2.36 height was near his very best.

Danil Lysenko changed his approach just enough to get himself over the 2.36 meter height, and the crowd roared! No jump off tonight! Danil Lysenko, all of twenty years old, a Russian who competes as a Non Affiliated Athlete, had just won the global title against the finest high jumper in the modern world!

After the event, Danil Lysenko, told the media: "This is the most important result of my career. In London, it was tough. But here, it was really a pleasure to jump with these guys. My emotions are so strong I cannot even describe it. This is unbelievable, such a good result for me. Honestly, I did not expect to win this event and I did not think of it at all. I just tried to do my best until the end of the competition. I liked it here in Birmingham very much and the crowd was very supportive. I have not jumped very often this season but all my performances were good. I am happy for this and looking forward to the summer.Now, I am heading home and I will get ready for summer with my team in Russia. Here, I will celebrate with my coach and of course, at home with my family."

Danil Lysenko took on the pressure of the World Indoors, and finally, on the last jump, when the going was the toughest, Danil Lysenko, just moments after Maria Lysenko won the women's high jump, cleared 2.36 meters and in a wonderful new rivalry for the sport, won the gold medal in the high jump.

The men's high jumper Danil Lysenko is our AJC Peachtree Road Race Moment of Larry for Day 1 of the World Indoor Championships, March 1, 2018.

Danil Lysenko, clearing 2.36 meters, taking the gold medal on a final attempt, photo by PhotoRun.net

The 49th edition of the world's largest 10k, the AJC Peachtree Road Race will be held on July 4, 2018. The open registration for the AJC Peachtree Road Race Lottery is open March 15, 2018 to March 22, 2018.

Key Dates for AJC Peachtree Road Race Registration

March 1-14: Early Registration for Atlanta Track Club members at atlantrackclub.org

March 15-22: Lottery Registration for the general public open at AJC.com/peachtree.

March 22: Lottery selections emailed and posted on peachtreeroadrace.org and AJC.com/peachtree