Blanka Vlasic of Croatia during the High Jump qualification (© Getty Images)
Banska Bystrica, SlovakiaHigh quality High Jump fields for both men’s and women’s competitions have been assembled for tonight’s Europa SC High Jump Meet in Central Slovakia.
For the first time in this season World champion Kajsa Bergqvist, 30, will meet two of the Balkan’s principal jumpers, Blanka Vlasic (CRO) and Venelina Veneva (BUL) in one competition. The World record holder from Sweden had a good spell of training after her competition in Arnstadt (1.95m 2nd), while Vlasic (2.01m world season lead) and Veneva (1.98m, 2nd) jumped well last Friday (9) in Romania. So all three are looking forward to attacking two metres, and even a new world lead could be a possibility.
Last year’s meet in Banska Bystrica is especially remembered for the brilliant performance of Vlasic who jumped 2.05m on her first attempt and tried unsuccessfully for 2.09m!
Italian Antoinetta di Martino with 1.98m and 1.97m jumps recently, another Swede Emma Green, and Russian Yekaterina Kuntsevich are all ready to jump.
The men’s event is headlined by Olympic champion Stefan Holm of Sweden against World Indoor winner Yaroslav Rybakov of Russia. Both have rested since Arnstadt where Holm jumped 2.34m (2nd) and Rybakov leapt 2.38m (1st).
The organisers are ready to celebrate Holm's 100th competition at 2.30m and hope for a attack on a new meeting record. The current is 2.36m held by Sorin Matei from Romania since 1995, and last year Andrey Sokolovskiy from Ukraine also achieved that height.
New national records for Botswana and Lebanon are also a real possibility, while local crowds are hoping that Peter Horak who is representing the army club of Banska Bystrica will be able to successfully attack the 2.30m barrier for the first time in his career.
Alfons Juck for the IAAF
Live results - http://www.atletikadubnica.sk/Priprava/BBL/BBL.htm
or at the Federation website - www.saz.sk
