by Stuart Weir
Mariya Lasitskene took the DL in a spectacular competition! photo by Diamond League AG
The women’s high jump, in day 1 of Zurich DL (by the Lakeside) was awesome! Three tremendous jumpers battled it out at 2.01m, 2.03m, and 2.05m! Stuart Weir captures the excitement and the strategy!
What a way to end the season.
Women’s High Jump
Mariya Lasitskene, Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Nicola McDermott are simply dominating the event. In Tokyo they all cleared 2 meters with Lasitskene winning with 2:04. While athletes in some disciplines tend to avoid each other, these three go at it week after. Since the Olympics, they have gone head-to-head in Lausanne, Paris and Brussels, with the three Diamond Leagues producing three different winners. In Tokyo, Brussels and again in Zurich you had to jump 2m to make the final.
Yaroslava Mahuchikh continues to soar, photo by Diamond League AG
Again in Zurich it was 2m which separated the field with the big three clearing 2 meters and the others failing to. Lasitskene had a scare, needing three attempts to clear 1.96. Mahuchikh and McDermott had perfect records through to 2:01. All three attempted 2:05 with only Lasitakene successful. Mahuchikh and Lasitskene both attempted 2:07 unsuccessfully.
Nicola McDermott, the sensation of 2021, photo by Diamond League AG
Lasitskene commented: “It is an unbelievable feeling. Jumping with spectators is fantastic. I am so happy about the meeting record. I am so lucky here in Switzerland. The venue here is difficult and fantastic at the same time – difficult because of the track and fantastic because of the spectators. Yet, for some attempts I asked them to be quiet because I needed to concentrate. This season was a really fantastic one”.
Mahuchikh said: “I am very happy to be here. The Diamond League final is very important for me. I am delighted with 2:03.” She too enjoyed the venue, explaining: “We have previously competed in a shopping mall so doing it in the city was good”. She added that the three had a good relationship and enjoyed travelling to compete together. She said of her ambitions, “Every athlete wants Olympic gold and the world record”, and that at age 19 she had a lot of years to keep chasing the world record. It will be fun to watch.
Nicola McDermott pronounced herself happy with her performance, explaining that she had set two goals at the start of the year – an Olympic medal and a 2m jump. Having achieved both she could not be dissatisfied.
What a credit the three are to our sport.
