DOHA –
The
Super Grand Prix at the Qatar Sport Club in Doha
lived up to all the expectations, with a half
dozen meeting records, world leading marks and
three valiant attempts at a World record by
‘athlete of the meet’ Blanka Vlasic. The two-time World Junior champion put on a master class in high jumping for the packed stadium, and that was despite the presence of her current nemesis, Tia Hellebaut.
The Belgian has had the upper hand on Vlasic in the last nine months. Though Vlasic has many more two metres plus jumps than her rival, Hellebaut has taken the European outdoor and indoor title with 2.03 and 2.05 metres respectively, the latter being the best performance at the indoors in Birmingham, UK two months ago. But Vlasic got her revenge, in spades on Friday evening.
2.04 - New Croatian record for Vlasic
She had an early blip, taking two jumps to clear 1.94m, but after that she sailed over every height, including four meeting records, 1.98m, 2.00m, 2.02m, and 2.04m on her third attempt, while Hellebaut stalled on 1.98m, and finished second, with early leader, Ruth Beitia of Spain third on 1.96m.
On a warm and humid night, which she later described as “perfect” for high jumping, the young Croat, still only 23, then had three fine attempts – the second, oh, so close! – at 2.10m, attacking one of the oldest records in the books, the 2.09m World record held by Stefka Kostadinova of Bulgaria since the summer of 1987.
Vlasic immediately went to the animated crowd behind the High Jump fan, who had been giving her vocal (noisy to the race starter!) support throughout her odyssey.
IAAF
