Athletics
Vlasic reaches high jump final
2011-09-01 08:25
Daegu - Two-time defending champion Blanka Vlasic on Thursday vowed to fight through the pain barrier as she goes in search of a unique title hattrick after reaching the high jump final.
The Croatian cleared four different heights with four jumps, reaching the qualifying height of 1.95m at the first time of asking.
"It was a long competition, a lot of girls, as always in qualifications. This is something you need to do and when you're finished with it, you are happy," she said after the competition in steamy conditions in Daegu.
"I did a good competition, no fouls. I still suffer from my injury and I am worried about how it will be in the final. I will jump through the pain."
Vlasic sustained a leg injury in the build-up to the championships that has pushed the 27-year-old Olympic silver medallist, who has successively taken the Berlin 2009 world, Doha 2010 world indoor and Barcelona 2010 European titles, down the favourite's list.
The top spot on that list is now occupied by her Russian archrival Anna Chichernova, who also qualified for Saturday's final with a perfect set of jumps.
Chicherova, 29, last month won the Russian national title by clearing a world lead mark of 2.07m, a statement that she is at last ready to emerge from Vlasic's shadow.
That 2.07m mark took her to equal third with Lyudmila Andonova on the all-time list behind Stefka Kostadinova (2.09m) and Vlasic (2.08m).