by Larry EderBlanka Vlasic has recovered well from Beijing. Her gold medal in the World Champs, and now, her 2.08m, a world leader, meet record and national record in Zagreb! We’ll let Alfons Juck tell you the rest of the story…..
Blanka Vlasic cleared 2.08m, today, or 6-9.75 for those in the U.S., this picture is from the 2009 Rome Golden Gala, photo by PhotoRun.net.
EME NEWS (AUG 31, 2009) UPDATE
VLASIC GOES 208, TWO MORE WORLD LEADS
ZAGREB (CRO, Aug 31): The 59th Zagreb Grand Prix Meeting (Hanzekovic Memorial) showed its class in nice summer weather in the packed stadium. In total three world leading marks and in total six new meeting records were an excellent summary. The biggest highlight was the excellent display of shape of home star Blanka Vlasic. She cleared 208 the second best ever (national record, world lead, meet record) with nice space in first attempt. Then gave the fans three solid attempts at new world record height 210, specially the second one showed her body over the bar. She started at 190 and also all other heights (194, 200, 205) were mastered in first attempt. Her next two meets in Brussels and Thessaloniki could be very interesting. Her Berlin rival Anna Chicherova was well beaten into second with 194. The other rival from Worlds German Ariane Friedrich already finished her season. US World champion Christian Cantwell started great with second round attempt 21.69 and improved in last to world leading 22.16. His previous own world lead from worlds final was 22.03. Olympic winner Tomasz Majewski was a solid second placer (21.47). The event also started with a world lead. Olympic and world winner Primoz Kozmus of Slovenia achieved in fourth round world leading 81.77. He also confirmed his late shape with last round 81.51 mark. Until today world leader Hungarian Krisztian Pars was second (79.18) and beat both remaining Berlin medalists Russian Aleksey Zagorniy (78.88) and Poland´s Szymon Ziolkowski (78.71). New Kuwait record for Mohamed Al Zankawi with 78.52 as fifth. First ever sub 10 seconds were registered in Croatia in the men´s 100 m. US Darvis Patton clocked meet record 9.94 (+0.6) to beat national champion Mike Rodgers (9.97) and olympic relay winner Nesta Carter of Jamaica (10.04). Remaining two meet records in women events. Cuban world silver winner Mabel Gay leaped to 14.58 (-0.6) in triple jump and second placed Biljana Topic of Serbia was also over the old mark with 14.51 (+0.3, just 1 cm shy of national record from Berlin). Ethiopian 10k world medalist Wude Ayalew achieved event best in 3000 m with 8:37.12 over Kenyan Ines Chenonge (8:40.60), Poland´s Lidia Chojecka (8:41.83) and world steeple bronze winner Milcah Chemos with new PB 8:43.92. Olympic winner Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica clearly won the 100 m in excellent 11.15 (+0.6). Russian Tatyana Firova beat Jamaican favorites in the 400 m with 50.80. Novlene Williams clocked 50.96 and Shericka Williams 51.14. European indoor champion Mariya Savinova took a sweet revenge over world silver winner Janeth Jepkosgei of Kenya in 1:59.38 over 1:59.94. Olympic winner Dawn Harper won the 100 m hurdles in 12.67 (-0.4) beating world medalist Deloreen Ennis-London of Jamaica (12.76). Surprise defeat for 400 m hurdles world champion Melaine Walker (55.02) to her team-mate Kaliese Spencer who achieved 54.69. Cuban Yareli Barrios repeated her last year win here in discus (63.53). In remaining men events world champion Ryan Brathwaite confirmed his shape with 13.35 win at 110 m hurdles (0.0) with olympic medalist David Oliver second (13.41). Jamaican champion Isa Phillips who did not make surprisingly the worlds final returned in winning shape at 400 m hurdles (48.51) over Felix Sanchez (48.82) and worlds bronze winner Bershawn Jackson (48.83). Bahraini Ali Belal Mansour won the 1500 m in close race ahead of mile world junior record holder Kenyan William Biwott (3:36.20-3:36.21). Morrocan Yahya Berrabah was the best in men´s long jump (815, +0.5).
RESULTS
COLUMBUS (USA, Aug 30): Ethiopian Tesfaye Bekele clocked new course record at Spirit of Columbus Half-Marathon in 1:00:38, reports Race Results Weekly. Second Kenyan Enock Mitei got 1:00:47 With a 35m elevation loss, this course is aided, which is reflected in the fast times and many personal bests. Bahraini Teyba Naser who won the women race also achieved event best 1:10:21.
POTSDAM (GER, Aug 29): Poland´s Adam Kolasa cleared 561 to win the Pole Vault meet here. Behind him Fabian Schulze and Richard Spiegelburg with 541.
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