by Larry Eder
CHICHEROVA 200 AND TRIES FOR 204
BANSKA
BYSTRICA
(SVK, Feb 8): In the women’s competition, Anna Chicherova of Russia
won as expected with a height of 2.00.
The Olympic champion saw her last remaining rival, Belgium’s Tia
Hellebaut, depart the competition at 1.98 and was jumping alone after
that. Tonight’s
competition came only four days after the Daegu world champion jumped
a world-leading
(and personal-best) 2.06 in the Arnstadt competition. Her night was
blemish-free through the
deciding height of 1.98, with prior clearances at 1.85, 1.90 and 1.96.
When the pressure was finally off she had a momentary
lapse with a first-jump miss at 2.00.
But that was quickly corrected with a powerful clearance with much
space to spare. Moving the bar to 2.04, the Russian ended the evening
with
three creditable but unsuccessful jumps. „I wanted the 204 but was
simply too
tired after the Russian record, but crowd was excellent and I will
return
here,” said Chicerova. Hellebaut, returning to action this season after
maternity leave, sagged a bit at 1.93 and needed three attempts. But
she summoned reserve energy at 1.96 with
a first-try success to secure second place. Chaunté Lowe likewise used
a first-jump
clearance at 1.93 to take third place ahead of Antonietta DiMartino on
a countback.
Lowe had close attempts at 196. Very interesting close attempts also for
young
Italian Trost at new would be Italian junior record height of 193. Top
three
are mothers of together 5 daughters. Results:
Women: 1. Chicherova (RUS) 2.00
[1.85 – 1.90 – 1.96 – 1.98 – 2.00/2 – 2.04/xxx]; 2.
Hellebaut (BEL) 1.96; 3. Lowe
(USA) 1.93; 4. DiMartino (ITA)
1.93; 5. Trost (ITA) 1.90; 6. Spencer (LCA) 1.85; 7. Melfort (FRA)
1.85; 8. Dobrynska (UKR) 1.80; 9. Kuntsevich (RUS) 1.80; 10.
Silnicova (CZE) 1.75.
