Hestrie Cloete of South Africa wins in Brussels (© Getty Images)
13 September 2003MonteCarloFor Hestrie Cloete, a mere winning leap of 1.99 --a mediocre effort by the South African's standards-- is virtually all that separates her from this year's World Athlete of the Year honours, and, a cheque for US$100,000.
"The money is part of it," she admitted, "but I think the title will mean much more to me than the money. I did work really hard this year and I think that would just end my season perfectly if I go back home as the Athlete of the Year."
The season has already been nearly perfect for the 25 year-old from Germiston, and the money hasn't been too bad either. She successfully defended her world crown in Paris in grand style, with first-attempt clearances through a personal best and African record 2.06. In Brussels the following week, she won with a 2.03 leap, her seventh two metre jump of the year. With a win here on Saturday afternoon, Cloete could earn more than US $205,000 in the span of two weeks.
But it's taken more than two weeks to put her on the verge as the season's top woman of the year, potentially the first high jumper to earn the honor since Heike Henkel 12 years ago. She began the year with 10 consecutive victories before a few off performances in late June and early July, before five more straight wins before claiming her second world title, slowly building her consistency --and her clearances-- on the road to Paris.
"That was actually something I was working on," she said, referring to her penchant for first attempt clearances. "As I went into the worlds, I knew that the only way I could really defend my title was by clearing at every first attempt and really putting the pressure on the rest of the competitors. The high jump is really on a much higher status this year than in other years, with 12 ladies over two metres. It really was an event at the Worlds where anyone could have been a winner."
She won't gain top honours without a fight though. In the Monaco field are seven of the 12 who have topped two metres, including Vita Palamar who beat her in Lausanne, Croatian teenager Blanka Vlasic who won in the Paris Golden League, and Swede Kajsa Bergqvist, the victor in Eberstadt, who also cleared 2.06.
But even before Saturday's High Jump final, some athletes, are already conceding the over title to the 25 year-old South African.
"I think she will deserve it," said Maria Mutola, echoing the sentiments of Felix Shanchez, Christian Olsson and others. "She's been jumping very well this year.
Hicham El Guerrouj offered his praise as well, but was a little more abstract.
"I'm impressed by the suppleness of a high jumper," he said. "It's like a painter, like an artist, like a bird, which I really love to watch."
But Cloete doesn't want any part of the prediction game. "I think it's best for the others to decide," she said. "Because if you leave it up to the athletes to decide, it will be total chaos."
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
