Vlasic and Holm star attractions in Banska Bystrica

This evening the worlds top performing High Jumpers will meet in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, for the most important event of the Slovakian Indoor season – the 15th High Jump Meet.

Meeting record holders, the reigning Olympic High Jump Champion, Stefan Holm (SWE) and World Champion, Blanka Vlasic (CRO) are expected to top the bill this evening.

Always entertaining performers, last year Holm entranced a capacity audience by reaching his 100th meeting where he jumped over 2.30m, setting a new Meet record of 2.37m and his third win at this event in the process.

Vlasic did the same in 2006 when she jumped the Croatian Indoor record of 2.05m which still stands today and tried for a new World Indoor record of 2.09m.

Both jumpers showed great shape in Arnstadt, Germany this weekend. Vlasic jumped a World leading 2.03m and Holm finished second with 2.35m.

"It feels like home here, so let´s hope for something interesting," said Vlasic.

"I'm in good shape, so I feel why not attack my season best!" Holm adds.

However, they will not have an easy competition despite the fact that a number of Russia's elite jumpers are not taking part due to their National Championships next week. The title competition is likely to come from Asian Games winner Marina Aitova who achieved a 1.96m best this week in Cottbus, Sweden´s former World Championship medallist, Emma Green and Russian 2m jumper Yekaterina Savchenko.

Also present will be the full trio of the Czech Republics elite women; Barbora Lalakova (1.97m), Iva Strakova (1.95m), Romana Dubnova (1.93m), who are all fighting over two spots in the Czech team for Valencia. The same can be said in the men's competition with Svatoslav Ton and Jaroslav Baba., while other top names include Cuban World medalist Victor Moya and former World Champion and 2.40m jumper Vyacheslav Voronin of Russia. The best local jumper is Peter Horak, who cleared 2.30m at last years meeting, and Ukrainian Dmytro Demyanyuk who just recently bettered his PB to 2.30m

Unfortunately the talented Tomas Janku has had to miss the meet due to injury; however there is no shortage of talent or entertainment, including the surprise entrance of British Vet, Dalton Grant, who won the second edition of this meet back in 1994.

"I trained well in Africa," he added. He might well attack the Masters World record of Dwight Stones who has 210 from 1994. If any athlete succeeds in breaking a World record, a 10,000 Euro reward and a KIA car will be presented to a said athlete.

To view the startlists and live results visit: www.hrdosport.sk/BBL/ESCHJ_index.htm

Source/Courtesy
European Athletics (EAA)
https://www.european-athletics.org/
EAA