Posted: January 17, 2006

Athletics: Ukhov Takes First Leg in Moravian High Jump Tour

By Bob Ramsak
© 2006 TRACK PROFILE Report, all rights reserved

Ivan Ukhov of Russia topped a strong field to win the 14th Beskydska Latka competition, the first leg of the three-meet Moravian High Jump Tour in southern Czech Republic.

Ukhov, the 2005 European junior champion and still just 19, took top honors with his first attempt clearance of 2.28 (7-5 3/4).

Czech veteran Tomas Janku was second, also with a 2.28 best, to finish ahead of compatriot Svatoslav Ton and Russian Yaroslav Rybakov, a four-time silver medallist at the world indoor and outdoor championships. Each cleared 2.24.

"Of course I'm happy that I won and was able to beat Rybakov," said Ukhov, who is the early season world leader with a 2.32 (7-7 1/4) effort. "But it is only the start of the season so we'll see later. Yaroslav will for sure come back to his usual results. I wanted to do 2.31 (7-7) and 2.33 (7-7 3/4), but my technique was not the best."

Canadian Mark Boswell was fifth (2.24), while only four others managed to clear 2.20 (7-2 1/4). Reigning U.S. indoor champion Tora Harris, the winner here last year with a personal best 2.30 (7-6 1/2) leap, was seventh with a 2.20 effort. At a meet in Princeton, New Jersey last month, Harris equalled his 2.30 indoor best, the best jump by an American thus far this season.

In the women's competition, Czech Barbora Lalakova edged Iva Strakova, also a Czech, in a jump-off after each cleared 1.92 (6-3 1/2).

The second annual tour continues in Ostrava on Wednesday (18-Jan) and concludes in Hustopece on Saturday (21-Jan). Czech Jaroslav Baba, the reigning Olypmic bronze medallist, will join the field in Ostrava. Last year, the 21-year-old Baba leaped 2.37 (7-9 1/4) indoors and 2.36 (7-8 3/4) outdoors, both national records.

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