Ukhov attempts world record again, Di Martino clears 2.04

In a fantastic display of high jumping which provided the perfect prelude to the forthcoming European Athletics Indoor Championships, Russia’s Ivan Ukhov equalled his world-leading 2.38m in the Slovakian city of Banská Bystrica before attempting the world indoor record again on Tuesday night.

Russia's Ivan Ukhov equalled his own world season leading mark of 2.38m in Banská Bystrica on Tuesday night.

Less than two weeks ago, Ukhov, cleared 2.38 in the Czech town of Hustopeče before having the bar set at 2.44m at attempting to break the 22-year-old world high jump record, held by Cuba’s Javier Sotomayor, and his outing over the border was a repeat performance, only better.

Ukhov cleared every height up to and including 2.38m on his first attempt; the last height also equalled his own stadium record set last March, to extend his unbeaten winter winning streak to four competitions.

'I wanted to jump it today (the world record). There is no specific reason why it did not happen. I gave my best, but for the record everything must be in place,' said Ukhov, after three good attempts at going into new territory.

In addition to Ukhov’s terrific jumping, the depth in Banská Bystrica was also outstanding with four men over 2.30m or better.

American jumper Jesse Williams finished second with 2.34m while Ukraine’s Dmytro Demyanyuk set an indoor best of 2.32m in third place, equalling his outdoor best set four years ago. Russia’s Sergey Mudrov, the 2009 European Athletics Junior Championships gold medallist, went over 2.30m to equal his best and finish fourth.

The women’s competition also provided plenty of fireworks with Italy’s Antonietta Di Martino, the 2007 World Championships silver medallist, setting an Italian record of 2.04m to the world lists for the year.

The 32-year-old cleared all heights up to and including 2.02m on her first attempt before getting over 2.04m to add one centimetre to her absolute best set four years ago.

However, she was pushed all the way by Russia’s Svetlana Shkolina who equalled her personal best with 2.00m for second place.

Jumping first, at 2.00m Di Martino cleared first time to equal her own existing Italian record from four years ago while Shkolina needed three tries to before going clear.

Di Martino then went over 2.02m also at the first attempt and, having watched her rival consolidate her lead, Shkolina decided to gamble and passed the height to save her strength for 2.04m.

After eight straight clearances, Di Martino finally lost her perfect record at 2.04 with misses on her first two attempts but, with her third, she skimmed over the bar with the minimum amount of space and it stayed on to move her up to equal seventh on the world, and also European, all-time indoor list.

“I came here hoping for something like 2.00. To get 2.04 is absolutely incredible. I trained outdoors in fantastic weather in San Diego in January, and it prepared me well for this indoor season,” said Di Martino, who now becomes the favourite for here event European Athletics Indoor Championships in little more than three weeks time.

The 2011 European Athletics Indoor Championships will be held in the French capital Paris at the Palais Omnisport Paris-Bercy from 4-6 March.

“Why, then, did I jump so high tonight? I think it was because of more experience than before. And perhaps I was better focused in my mind,” added Di Martino, whose only continental medal to date is the silver from the 2007 European Athletics Indoor Championships.