Germany's Ariane Friedrich qualifies for the High Jump final at the 12th IAAF World Championship in Athletics (© Getty Images)
The most dramatic moments in the qualifying round of the women’s high jump came a few hours before the jumping even began when defending champion Blanka Vlasic found herself on a hospital table receiving six stitches to a gash on her head.
The Croatian Olympic silver medallist slipped and fell at her hotel this morning to add an unanticipated stop to her morning schedule. The incident didn’t seem to affect her state of mind or her jumping this morning, as she easily advanced to Thursday evening’s final. She produced a perfect slate with her four jumps, sailing clear of the automatic qualifying height of 1.95m with ease.
Conversely, Ariane Friedrich had a much less eventful morning, showing up at Olympic Stadium to take just one leap. She opened at the automatic qualifier, sailed clear, and soon thereafter went home.
Theirs is among the most eagerly awaited head-to-heads at these championships, where German fans will be looking for a competition similar to the one which propelled Friedrich to her 2.06m national record the last time the pair met at Olympic Stadium, at June’s ISTAF ÅF Golden League Meeting.
Seven others found 1.95m manageable today, with no medal contenders being left behind: Italy’s Antonietta Di Martino and Russian Anna Chicherova, the defending co-silver medallists; Swede Emma Green; Ruth Beitia of Spain; and American Chaunte Howard all sailed clear on their first try. American veteran Amy Acuff, who will be hanging up her spikes after this season, needed a second try before sailing clear, while Yelena Slesarenko of Russia, the 2004 Olympic champion, needed three.
Filling out the field will be Melanie Melfort of France, Russian No. 3 Svetlana Shkolina, and German Meike Kröger to give the hosts a surprise second finalist.
But the focus clearly remains on the Big-Two. Friedrich said little after the competition besides saying that she’ll “hopefully win” before taking a good bye bow to journalists in the media-athlete mixed zone. Vlasic, who confirmed that she’s feeling OK despite her morning bruising, simply said, “I can’t predict anything for the final.”
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
The Croatian Olympic silver medallist slipped and fell at her hotel this morning to add an unanticipated stop to her morning schedule. The incident didn’t seem to affect her state of mind or her jumping this morning, as she easily advanced to Thursday evening’s final. She produced a perfect slate with her four jumps, sailing clear of the automatic qualifying height of 1.95m with ease.
Conversely, Ariane Friedrich had a much less eventful morning, showing up at Olympic Stadium to take just one leap. She opened at the automatic qualifier, sailed clear, and soon thereafter went home.
Theirs is among the most eagerly awaited head-to-heads at these championships, where German fans will be looking for a competition similar to the one which propelled Friedrich to her 2.06m national record the last time the pair met at Olympic Stadium, at June’s ISTAF ÅF Golden League Meeting.
Seven others found 1.95m manageable today, with no medal contenders being left behind: Italy’s Antonietta Di Martino and Russian Anna Chicherova, the defending co-silver medallists; Swede Emma Green; Ruth Beitia of Spain; and American Chaunte Howard all sailed clear on their first try. American veteran Amy Acuff, who will be hanging up her spikes after this season, needed a second try before sailing clear, while Yelena Slesarenko of Russia, the 2004 Olympic champion, needed three.
Filling out the field will be Melanie Melfort of France, Russian No. 3 Svetlana Shkolina, and German Meike Kröger to give the hosts a surprise second finalist.
But the focus clearly remains on the Big-Two. Friedrich said little after the competition besides saying that she’ll “hopefully win” before taking a good bye bow to journalists in the media-athlete mixed zone. Vlasic, who confirmed that she’s feeling OK despite her morning bruising, simply said, “I can’t predict anything for the final.”
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
