Gold medalist Chaunte Howard Lowe of the United States celebrates in the Women's High Jump Final during day two - WIC Istanbul (© Getty Images )
With the lowest winning height ever at a World Indoor Championships, the women's High Jump may have proved somewhat anti-climactic. But don't tell winner Chaunté Lowe.
"This victory gives me a lot of confidence," said the U.S record holder, who took the first-ever title for the U.S. in the history of these Championships after being the only jumper able to clear 1.98m.
"I was surprised that a lot of girls struggled at 1.98, but on the other hand I kind of expected it after yesterday's qualification."
Indeed, five women topped out at 1.95m, and even Lowe, who scaled 2.02m late last month, running into problems and needing second tries at both 1.92m and 1.98m.
It was nonetheless a superb comeback for Lowe, the 2010 World indoor silver medallist, who gave birth to her second daughter in April of last year.
The best of the rest were Italy's Antonietta Di Martino, World leader and pre-champs favorite Anna Chicherova of Russia and Swede Ebba Jungmark who produced spotless score cards until the bar was raised to 1.98m to finish in a tie for silver.
"Today was not my day," Chicherova, who has topped two metres in each of her competitions this season, understated. "You also have to accept it when you don't win. Maybe it was a mistake to come here. I have had some problems with my leg recently and I hesitated to come. After the qualifications, I thought things would be better. Maybe it can ring a bell for me. As for the summer, I have the motivation, but the most important is to be ready."
For Jungmark, her joint silver had the added meaning of coming on her 25th birthday.
Olympic champion Tia Hellebaut, also on the return from maternity leave, was fifth on countback, also topped out at 1.95.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
