The High Jump has always played a central role in Stockholm Olympic Stadium, the host for annual international athletics meetings since the mid-sixties. Most Swedes remember Patrik Sjöberg’s World Record in 1987 when he jumped 2.42m, still the current Stadium Record. Blanka Vlasic’s meet record 2.07m will celebrate its 10th anniversary in August. Or is there anyone who can challenge it at BAUHAUS-galan, next Sunday?
World Champion, Mariya Lasitskene, cleared 2.03m in her comeback on the international scene in Eugene ten days ago. That is the same height that she jumped in her last indoor competition, the Russian Nationals in February. No one else has managed results at that level the past two years.
Olympic Champion, Ruth Beitia, is 38 years young and will go for her 16th two metre jump. Airine Palsyte cleared 2.01m when she secured the European Indoor Gold in Beograd, three months ago. Former World Indoor Champion, Kamila Lićwinko, has started her outdoor season promisingly with two victories and a second place behind Lasitskene at the Prefontaine Classic.
Mirela Demireva and Alessia Trost, respectively 2nd and 5th at the Olympics, will also be in Stockholm where three home favourites complete the field. It has only happened once before that three Swedish women have been able to start in the same event in the IAAF Diamond League. Not surprisingly it was also in a jumping event, the pole vault, in Stockholm two years ago.
The Swedish trio consists of Sofie Skoog, who reached the finals of all three international Championships last year and is coached by 2004 Olympic Champion, Stefan Holm, US based Erika Kinsey, 8th at the World Indoors, and emerging talent Bianca Salming. The 18-year-old heptathlete will experience one of her biggest challenges ever even if high jump is her favourite event.
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Stockholm BAUHAUS-Galan