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SPORTS Friday 2 March 2018

Lysenko beats world champ Barshim to win indoors high jump

By DANIELLA MATAR
Associated Press
BIRMINGHAM, England (AP)
— Danil Lysenko reversed
his world outdoors result
with Mutaz Essa Barshim by
winning their world indoors
high jump duel on his last
leap on Thursday.
In contrast, Mariya Las-
itskene blew away the field
in the women’s event.
Lysenko, an authorized
neutral athlete, and
Barshim of Qatar cleared
three heights on their first
attempts and were the only
two to attempt 2.36 meters.
Barshim, the IAAF male
athlete of 2017, and Ly-
senko failed at their first
two attempts. Barshim let
out a roar before his third
attempt but again failed.
Lysenko asked for quiet
from the Arena Birmingham
crowd and — after a tense
wait — soared over.
“This is the most important
result of my career,” the Russia’s Danil Lysenko makes an attempt in the men’s high jump final at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Birmingham,
20-year-old Lysenko said. Britain, Thursday, March 1, 2018.
“In London, it was tough. Associated Press
But here, it was really a Przybylko promised “a big Not content with claiming zebe Dibaba claimed her petition is the 60-meter
pleasure to jump with these party” after winning his first a 38th successive victory, third successive world in- hurdles, where American
guys. ever medal. Lasitskene continued to door title in the 3,000 me- women are expected to fill
“This is unbelievable. Hon- Lasitskene, also jumping as jump on her own, clear- ters. the podium on Saturday.
estly, I did not expect to an authorized neutral ath- ing 2.01 on her second at- Dibaba of Ethiopia timed Sharika Nelvis, Kendra Harri-
win and I did not think of it lete, cleared all the heights tempt before failing on 8 minutes, 45 seconds, 0.05 son, and Christina Manning
at all. I just tried to do my on her first attempts up to all three attempts at 2.07, seconds, to edge out Sifan push each other to the limit
best.” 2.01, by which time all her which would have been Hassan of the Netherlands on the track and each of
Lysenko lost to Barshima at competitors had bowed the second-highest indoor by 0.63. them will be running for
the world championships in out. mark. Cheered on by the home gold. Off the track, there’s
London last year. Lasitskene and Lysenko “Maybe it looked easy but crowd, British athlete Laura no animosity.
“I wasn’t surprised Danil were on the list of Russians it was not,” Lasitskene said. Muir produced a home- “Everybody wants us to
put in that jump,” Barshim cleared by the IAAF to “It is very hard for me to straight burst but missed have some kind of thing
said. “I was surprised that it compete as neutrals after jump without any strong out on silver by 0.1. Muir going on,” Nelvis says. “I
took him until the third but Russia was suspended for opponents. If there was a celebrated her first world am perfectly fine with ev-
it’s good we can have that doping. girl pushing me, I am sure medal. She’s the European erybody that runs hurdles.”
kind of competition to push Defending champion it could have been even indoors 1,500 and 3,000 Nelvis and Manning even
us to jump higher.” Vashti Cunningham of the higher. Now, I have to wait champion. share a room on the road,
Mateusz Przybylko of Ger- U.S. was second after fail- for the next winter to show All three medalists will com- and they threaten to break
many was third, after failing ing at 1.96, along with Ales- some high jumping in- pete in the 1,500. Susanna Kallur’s 7.68 sec-
to clear 2.33, along with Erik sia Trost of Italy, who took doors.” Among upcoming high- onds world record set a de-
Kynard of the United States. bronze. In the first track event, Gen- lights at the four-day com- cade ago.q