Athletics: Palli struggles at Indoors final

Israel's 19-year-old representative finishes tied for last in the high jump final in Birmingham, England.

By ALLON SINAI
Niki Palli 298.88 (photo credit: AP [file])
Niki Palli 298.88
(photo credit: AP [file])
The European Athletics Indoor Championships ended as a relative disappointment for Israel on Sunday night after Niki Palli finished tied for last in the high jump final in Birmingham, England. Palli cleared 2.15 meters in his first attempt, but failed three times at 2.20m and had to settle for eighth place at the championships. The 19-year-old, whose career best is 2.30m, jumped 2.27m on Saturday to reach the final, just two centimeters short of the height cleared by Sunday's bronze-medal winner. Olympic champion Stefan Holm of Sweden claimed the gold for the third straight time, passing 2.34m on his second effort, while countryman Linus Thornblad took the silver with a jump of 2.32m and Briton Martyn Bernard picked up the bronze by clearing 2.29m. Palli, who finished in sixth place at last year's European championships, will now set his sight on August's World championships in Japan, looking to make his third straight final in a major competition.