Swedish high jumpers star in new Tallinn indoor hall

The inaugural "Jumping Gala" in the new indoor hall was dominated by the Swedish high jumping stars last night - 5 March.
 
Stefan Holm continued his unbeaten run this indoor season, achieving an excellent 2.34 leap in the men’s competition. He then unsuccessfully tried for a new personal best and a season’s world best mark of 2.37m. It was the reigning World Indoor champions’ sixth competition indoors with a result of 2.30m or more.

European outdoor Champion Yaroslav Rybakov of Russia showed some improved form as he went over 2.32m for second.

In the women’s High Jump, Kajsa Bergqvist, like Holm a reigning World Indoor champion from Lisbon 2001, was also the clear winner beating a strong Russian group of jumpers. Only she was able to jump over 2.00m, and then she made an attempt without success at a new national indoor record of 2.04. It was her 8th meet of the indoor season, and the 7th time she was able to jump two metres or more.

The expected men’s Triple Jump clash between Jonathan Edwards and Christian Olsson did not happened, as European Champion Olsson from Sweden was a late withdrawal, informing the organizers he had sustained a small injury. Olympic champion Edwards was the winner with 17.05m.

Cuba’s Yamile Aldama re-confirmed her leading position in the world this season, and achieved another high quality mark in women’s Triple Jump with 14.72.

The meet was watched by some 3000 spectators, and the event will be staged again in 2004.

Alfons Juck for the IAAF

Selected results

Men:
60 m: 1. Argo Goldberg EST 6.73
HJ: 1. Stefan Holm SWE 234, 2. Yaroslav Rybakov RUS 232, 3. Oskari Frosen FIN 227
TJ: 1. Jonathan Edwards GBR 17.05, 2. Karl Taillepierre FRA 16.89

Women:
60mH: 1. Susanna Kallur SWE 7.97, 2. Patricia Girard FRA 7.99,
HJ: 1. Kajsa Bergqvist SWE 200, 2. Marina Kuptsova RUS 194, 3. Anna Chicherova RUS 194, 4. Yelena Slesarenko, RUS 191, 5. Svetlana Lapina RUS 188.
TJ: 1. Yamile Aldama CUB 14.72, 2. Tatyana Lebedeva RUS 14.05