European Athletics (EAA) – News – 2011 world best of 1.97m for Vlašić in Rabat

Croatia's 2010 European Athlete of the Year Blanka Vlašić was the star of the show at the IAAF World Challenge meeting in  Rabat, Morocco, clearing a world-leading height and meeting record of 1.97m before missing 2.00m on Sunday.

“I’m not too happy to be honest. I’m happy that I won, it just wasn’t two metres. I guess I’m just not ready for that yet,” commented Vlašić, who skimmed over her winning height with her first attempt.

“It’s little different this year, I don't have the experience with the big heights. Before I would come back after a month-and-a-half break from competition, so that feeling was still there,” she added, reflecting on the fact that she missed the indoor season this year.

France’s Melanie Melfort excelled to clear 1.95m, just one centimetre short of her national record, to finish second in front of 20,000 spectators while Russia’s Anna Chicherova, the silver medallist at the last two World Championships, also went over 1.95m but was third on this occasion.

Bulgaria’s 2010 European Athletics Championships 400m hurdles silver medallist Vania Stambolova won over the barriers in a swift 53.68, the best time by a European this year and a national record, improving on her time of 53.82 in Barcelona last year.

Another European-leading mark was established in the 1500m when France’s Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabaad improved to 3:33.86, when finishing a close second behind Kenya’s Collins Cheboi who crossed the line in 3:33.82.

Mekhissi-Benabaad is now expected to attack the European 3000m steeplechase record in Oslo on Thursday night.

His compatriot Bob Tahri holds the record with 8:01.13, which he ran when finishing third at the 2009 World Championships, whilst Mekhissi-Benabbad’s best is 8:02.52, from when he won in Brussels last August.

Behind Mekhissi-Benabaad, there were good marks from a couple of other European middle-distance men.

Spain’s Diego Ruiz was fifth in 3:34.62 while France’s Florian Carvalho came home seventh in 3:36.03, both men running personal best times.

In addition to Vlašić and Stambolova, there were four other European winners in Rabat.

Spain’s 2006 European Athletics Championships javelin bronze medallist Mercedes Chilla won her specialist event with a meeting record of 63.77m while Czech Republic’s Jarmila Klimesova was second with 60.41m.

Ukraine’s Anna Mishchenko won the 1500m in 4:07.95 while Belgium’s Jonathan Borlée, the fastest European 400m runner last year, dropped down a distance to win the 200m in a personal best of 20.42.

Dutch discus thrower Eric Cadée won with 64.06m, ahead of Spain’s Frank Casañas who threw 63.53m.

Poland’s 2010 European Athletics Championships 800m Marcin Lewandowski clocked a national record of 2:15.76, improving on Adam Kszczot’s time of 2:16.99 set just five days before in Ostrava, when he finished second behind Morocco’s Amine Laalou, who ran  a world-leading 2:15.31 for the non-championship distance.

 European Athletics (EAA) – News