EUGENE, Ore. (Reuters) — Australian Eleanor Patterson picked the perfect time to produce her lifetime best leap as she equaled the Oceania record of 2.02 meters to win a surprise World Championship high jump gold on Tuesday.
Patterson failed twice at 1.98 meters, once at her previous best of 2.00 but cleared 2.02 at the first attempt, lifting her from fourth place to first.
As her rivals then faltered it proved enough to earn her gold on countback ahead of Ukrainian favorite Yaroslava Mahuchikh, who needed two tries to get over the same height before both athletes failed to clear 2.04 meters.
Italy’s Elena Vallortigara was error-free up to 2.00 meters and though she could not go any further she took bronze on countback from Ukraine’s Iryna Gerashchenko
“It’s crazy, 2.02, I don’t know what happened,” Patterson said. “So many girls went two meters it was a phenomenal performance from everyone. I’m so thrilled to clear 2.02. I’m so proud of myself and my team.”
Olympic and triple world champion Mariya Lasitskene was absent because of the ban on Russian athletes in Eugene.
Gold medalist Eleanor Patterson of Australia celebrates with the flag of her nation after winning the women’s high jump final at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, July 19, 2022.
Gold medalist Eleanor Patterson of Australia celebrates on the podium alongside silver medalist Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine and bronze medalist Elena Vallortigara of Italy during the medal ceremony at the Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, July 19, 2022.
