Czech high jumper Jan Stefela continued his ascent as he equalled his world-leading mark of 2.30m when winning at the Beskydska Latka 2024 – international high jump meeting – on home soil in Trinec on Wednesday (7).
The 2021 European U23 gold medallist, who is still only 22, started 2024 with a personal best of 2.24m, which dated back two years, but improved by a massive six centimetres when he went clear at 2.30m in Praguece on 16 January and proved his mettle with a clearance at the same height to defeat a strong international field at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Silver meeting.
Skipping intermediate heights in Moravian city’s Werk Arena, he had first time clearances at 2.10m, 2.20m and 2.27m before going well clear at 2.30m on his second attempt, the only man to do so in a competition which boasted of five 2023 World Athletics Championships finalists.
He only came down to earth when he had three failures at 2.33m.
"I knew I jumped 2.30m with a lot [to spare],” said a delighted Stefela, who is coached by the Czech record holder and 2004 Olympic Games bronze medallist Jaroslav Baba.
“I've seen it on the cube [the big multi-sided overhead screen] as well. I therefore believed that I would get 2.33m. But then my head started getting a bit messed up. I thought to myself ‘that’s the Olympic qualifier’ and then I lost my focus and it was no longer possible.”
"Suddenly, I panicked. I'm running faster than I want to, shortening my steps. But I'm satisfied, I went into the meeting thinking we were going to win, and I did," he added.
However, even though he has yet to get an Olympic qualifier, fitness permitting Stefela looks highly likely to be on his way to Paris as well as the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24 and the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships, at the very least qualifying by the rankings system as only nine men in the world who are eligable to compete at those meetings cleared 2.33m or better last year.
Stefela’s next competition will be 220km away in Hustopece on Saturday, as the high jump action moves from the east to the south of Czechia and once again the World Athletics Indoor Tour Silver meeting will be live streamed on the European Athletics YouTuve channel.
Relive all the action from the Beskydska Latka 2024 here.
USA’s Shelby McEwen finished second with 2.27m, the same height as 2022 European Athletics Championships silver medallist Tobias Potye, although the German had to settle for third due to more failures during the competition.
Greece’s Tatiana Gousin was the only women over to 1.90m, which was sufficient to claim victory in that competition.
Full results can be found here.
Phil Minshull for European Athletics
