Hamish Kerr is the winner of the first Heilbronn men's high jump meeting. The New Zealand serial champion fought a duel against indoor world champion Sanghyeok Woo from South Korea in pouring rain on Heilbronn's market square, who, like Kerr, jumped 2.28m, but needed more attempts than the New Zealander. Tobias Potye from Munich came third with a jump of 2.25m.
As it approached 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, the wind and rain had taken a short break, but just as Olympic champion Gianmarco Tamberi was standing on the run-up for the initial height of 2.10 m, the conditions worsened again. 16 degrees Celsius, rain and wind put both the athletes and the audience to the test. Nevertheless, the more than 900 spectators not only persevered, but spread such a good mood that they whipped the jumpers to top performances despite the adverse conditions.
One person, however, decided very early on not to get involved in the action: Gianmarco Tamberi took over the arena microphone and explained to the audience that he did not want to risk injury due to the World Championships taking place in two weeks. "Last year in Zurich, I also got seriously injured in the rain shortly before the World Championships and was out for a long time. This would have been exactly my competition and I am in the form of my life. But the risk is just too great for me right before the highlight of the season," explained the Olympic champion, who received a lot of understanding for this, especially from the organizers.
In contrast, the top placed Hamish Kerr and Sanghyeok Woo, who were soaking wet at the end, were visibly having fun. While Tobias Potye failed at 2.28m, the two of them tackled the 2.30m in good spirits and encouraged the celebrating spectators to loudly support them despite the cold and wet. When Kerr declared his competition over after his second attempt, the Korean tried to use his chance to win. But after the bar hit the wet mat again on his third attempt, Hamish Kerr, who took off and wrung out his dripping jersey, was declared the winner of the first Heilbronn high jump meeting. "During the warm-up, I would never have thought it possible that I could jump such a height today. I was in a good mood, and when it got really disgusting, I just didn't stop celebrating the event and the fans, because otherwise I would have realized how cold I actually was. During my second attempt at the 2.30, I could hardly see the bar because of all the rain. It was then clear to me that I would have to forego the third attempt," explained the two-time Oceania champion.
German champion Tobias Potye also took something positive from the competition: "I'm glad that I jumped over 2.25m. I had already had a few attempts before where I was able to do what I showed a few weeks ago. I'm taking this feeling with me to the World Championships in Budapest. When we jump in Heilbronn again next year, the sun will shine - and then things will get going!"
Heilbronn's mayor, Harry Mergel, was enthusiastic about what was happening on the "terrace" directly in front of his office in the town hall. "Today we were the Wacken of high jump. We didn't have any mud, but we did have great athletes, an enthusiastic audience and a lot of rain," joked the mayor. "I have a lot of respect for the organizing team, TSG Heilbronn and the many helpers. You could feel an incredibly positive spirit all weekend and we saw what potential we have in the city."
Oliver Blumenstock from the Heilbronn International High Jump Meeting Association struggled for words at the final press conference and said: "On Saturday we had summer, but today it was November. What the boys pulled off in these conditions was unbelievable. That makes us incredibly proud. We are happy that none of the jumpers were injured. After the women's jumping I said that I think Heilbronn has a new highlight. Today I know: Heilbronn has a new sporting highlight! We need a few days now to realise what actually happened here over the two days."
Photo: Hamish Kerr during his winning jump of 2.28m. (Photo: Thomas Kircher)
Commentaires