Ivan Ukhov is unchallenged in his quest for European Indoor gold as he sails over 2.32m with ease (© Getty Images)
Things are changing at the top of men’s High Jump and there will quite like be a new champion crowned in Berlin.
2008 Olympic Champion Andrey Silnov (RUS) is not part of the Russian team and the reigning World Champion from 2007, Donald Thomas (BAH), has been a shadow of his 2007 form lately. The Bahamian’s best result in June was 2.21m and in July he was unable to clear his starting height in two competitions.
Russia has the best team to offer in Berlin with world leading Ivan Ukhov leading the challenge. The 23-year-old Ukhov jumped 2.40m indoors and won the European indoor title and recently won the national championships with a 2.35m personal best (outdoors) clearance. Ukhov has yet to win a medal in major worldwide championships so this will be the first real test for him. A more experienced Russian, 28-year-old Yaroslav Rybakov also cleared the same height, 2.35m for a season’s best and second place at the Russian nationals. Rybakov has got three straight medals in major champs with silvers at both 2005 and 2007 World championships and a bronze from Beijing 2008.
Germaine Mason (GBR), the Beijing silver medallist, pulled off the British team due to an injury and will not compete for medals in Berlin. 2007 Osaka bronze medallist Kyriakos Ioannou (CYP) and 2005 surprise World Champion Yuriy Krymarenko (UKR) have both been entered but will have a lot to do for a medal in Berlin as their recent form has not illustrated a level needed for a top finish.
The third Russian competing will be Andrey Tereshin, who cleared a season’s best 2.33m at the national championships. The 26-year-old Tereshin has competed in World championships twice before, in 2005 and 2007, but failed to qualify for the final both times. In 2006 he won the silver medal at the World indoor championships in Moscow.
Other possible medal candidates include Jaroslav Bába (CZE) and Raul Spank (GER) who both did well in Beijing, finishing in sixth and fifth place respectively. Bába is closing in on his best form again after several troubled years under 2.30m. In 2005 he set a national record 2.36m and only in 2009 went again over 2.30m outdoors with 2.33m to win in London recently. Despite the problems Bába has been very consistent in major championships, always jumping near his best results there. He was fifth in 2005 World Championships and eighth in Osaka 2007 and sixth in Beijing equalling 2.29m season’s best then. Raul Spank was fifth at the Olympics with a 2.32m personal best and has jumped 2.31m this season too.
Mirko Jalava for the IAAF
2008 Olympic Champion Andrey Silnov (RUS) is not part of the Russian team and the reigning World Champion from 2007, Donald Thomas (BAH), has been a shadow of his 2007 form lately. The Bahamian’s best result in June was 2.21m and in July he was unable to clear his starting height in two competitions.
Russia has the best team to offer in Berlin with world leading Ivan Ukhov leading the challenge. The 23-year-old Ukhov jumped 2.40m indoors and won the European indoor title and recently won the national championships with a 2.35m personal best (outdoors) clearance. Ukhov has yet to win a medal in major worldwide championships so this will be the first real test for him. A more experienced Russian, 28-year-old Yaroslav Rybakov also cleared the same height, 2.35m for a season’s best and second place at the Russian nationals. Rybakov has got three straight medals in major champs with silvers at both 2005 and 2007 World championships and a bronze from Beijing 2008.
Germaine Mason (GBR), the Beijing silver medallist, pulled off the British team due to an injury and will not compete for medals in Berlin. 2007 Osaka bronze medallist Kyriakos Ioannou (CYP) and 2005 surprise World Champion Yuriy Krymarenko (UKR) have both been entered but will have a lot to do for a medal in Berlin as their recent form has not illustrated a level needed for a top finish.
The third Russian competing will be Andrey Tereshin, who cleared a season’s best 2.33m at the national championships. The 26-year-old Tereshin has competed in World championships twice before, in 2005 and 2007, but failed to qualify for the final both times. In 2006 he won the silver medal at the World indoor championships in Moscow.
Other possible medal candidates include Jaroslav Bába (CZE) and Raul Spank (GER) who both did well in Beijing, finishing in sixth and fifth place respectively. Bába is closing in on his best form again after several troubled years under 2.30m. In 2005 he set a national record 2.36m and only in 2009 went again over 2.30m outdoors with 2.33m to win in London recently. Despite the problems Bába has been very consistent in major championships, always jumping near his best results there. He was fifth in 2005 World Championships and eighth in Osaka 2007 and sixth in Beijing equalling 2.29m season’s best then. Raul Spank was fifth at the Olympics with a 2.32m personal best and has jumped 2.31m this season too.
Mirko Jalava for the IAAF
