2011 World Champs/Daegu: Day Six, Session 2: Jesse Williams takes Gold in High Jump, Aleksey Dmitrik took the silver, Trevor Barry of the Bahamas took the bronze, by Larry Eder, with Gary Morgan

Jesse Williams, 2011 WC high jump, gold medalist, photo by PhotoRun.net

Jesse Williams became the first American male to win a medal in the high jump since Charles Austin’s gold medal in 1991 (and Hollis Conway took bronze in 1991)! Jesse did it in style, taking the gold with five first attempt clearances, from 2.20m, 2.25m, 2.29m, 2.32m, 2.35m. That 2.35 meter clearance was the difference.

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Jesse Williams, 2011 WC high jump, gold medalist, photo by PhotoRun.net

Jesse noted to our mixed zone reporter Gary Morgan, ” It felt great to win. I wanted to jump 2.35 meters, and I did and I won. I saw all of the second place guys jumps (Aleksey Dmitrik). It has been a long road to get here.

Jesse Williams, 2011 WC, High Jump, gold medal, photo by PhotoRun.net

“I am a persistent guy” noted Williams. “I worked really hard. My best quality is that I like working hard. The Oregon TC is the best club in the world. We have won a lot of medals here. My family was watching from all over the world. I relived what Charles Austin did twenty years ago. I watched Charles Austin win the 1996 Olympics. It was my goal.”

A little respect for the high jump, Jesse Williams, photo by PhotoRun.net

The only misses he had were at 2.37 meters, which he missed three times.

Aleksey Dmitrik, 2011 WC High Jump, silver medalist, photo by PhotoRun.net

Aleksey Dmitrik of Russia was the silver medalist. He cleared 2.35m, on his second attempt, hence his silver. Dmitrik cleared 2.20m on his first, 2.25 on his first, two attempts at 2.29m, two attempts at 2.32 meters and two attempts at 2.35 meters.

Trevor Barry of the Bahamas was the bronze medalist. His best clearance was 2.32 meter, which was his personal best. Barry cleared 2.20m, 2.25m, both on his first attempt. He passed at 2.29m, and then cleared 2.32m on his first attempt. Barry missed 2.35m on three attempts.

Jesse Williams, 2011 WC high jump, gold medal, photo by PhotoRun.net

In fourth Jaroslav Babba of the Czech Republic, who cleared 2.32m. In fifth, Ivan Ukhov of Russia, who took three attempts to clear 2.32m, and missed three times at 2.35m.

Tonight was Jesse Williams’ night, who started three straight gold medal wins for the US on Day six of the World Championships.

Author

Larry Eder
Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."
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