Posted: July 2, 2006

Athletics: 2.03 Leap For Vlasic, Equals World Lead

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

Blanka Vlasic of Croatia leaped 2.03 [6-8] at the 20th High Jump Meeting in Somosko, Hungary, today, to equal the highest leap in the world this season. Since her return to competition last winter after undergoing surgery last year for a hyperthyroid condition, the 22-year-old two-time world junior champion has been on a tear. In February she joined elite company after jumping 2.05 [6-8 ¾] in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, and later went on to finish second at the World Indoor Championships. After a runner-up finish in Doha, Qatar, on May 12, Vlasic has been unbeaten in five competitions. Her wins included a 2.00 [6-6 ¾] clearance in Ostrava on May 30, a 1.98 [6-6] leap to take the first Golden League stop in Oslo on June 2, and a 2.02 [6-7 ½] clearance at the Znamenskiy Memorial near Moscow last weekend.

Speaking after her win in Ostrava last month, where she cleared two meters despite jumping on training-weary legs, Vlasic was upbeat about what she described as her "comeback year." Her chief targets, she said, are the upcoming European Championships as well as the $500,000 Golden League jackpot hunt. In both, her event is among the most competitive, and she said she relishes the opportunity to compete against the world’s best.

"I’m happy that lots of girls are jumping well this year," she said. "I think this year will be very interesting and also very competitive. I’m really looking forward to it. For the first time in a long time, I don’t have any problems, and am healthy. It’s a good beginning of the season."

2006 World’s top five:
2.03  [6-8]  - Venelina Veneva, BUL, Athens 31 May
2.03  [6-8]  - Blanka Vlašic, CRO, Ostrava 30 May
2.01  [6-7]  - Chaunte Howard, USA, Indianapolis IN 24 Jun
1.99  [6-6 ¼] - Yelena Slesarenko, RUS, Eugene, OR 28 May
1.98  [6-6]  - Tia Hellebaut, BEL, Oslo 02 Jun
  [10 at 1.95 (6-4 ¾) or higher]

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