Niki Palli and Olga Dogadko came up short in their efforts to improve upon their marks at the Israel Track and Field Championships.
By IAN ROBINSONtrack hurdle 88(photo credit: )
Just four days after their record-setting performances at the Israel Track and Field Championships, Niki Palli and Olga Dogadko came up short in their efforts to improve upon those marks at the Jerusalem Grand Prix meet at Givat Ram.
Palli, who last week raised his national junior record in the high jump from 2.28 meters to 2.30m, which also met the Beijing 2008 Olympic minimum, looked to clear 2.31m, a result that would have been among the top 10 in the world this year. But after three misses, he settled for winning the event with a solid 2.20m.
While approaching the bar for his second attempt at 2.31, the tape mark that he uses as a guide stuck to his shoe until a few steps from the mat. After replacing the mark, the Israel Athletics Association male athlete of the year clipped the bar with his leg on his final attempt and showed his frustration with a loud grunt.
Dogadko, who improved her own national record in the pole vault by one centimeter to 4.02 last week, went for 4.03 but couldn't top the bar in three tries on Sunday. Dogadko jumped 4.01 last year at Givat Ram, setting the record at the time. Her 3.83 vault won the event.
Dogadko appeared to be struggling with her takeoff on the final height. In between jumps, her coach demonstrated the proper takeoff position that would maximize her power and height. After hitting the bar with her leg on the first two attempts, she didn't even get above the bar on her final one.
Several athletes are using these local meets as their last opportunities to post qualifying marks for the European Championships, which will take place next month in Goteborg, Sweden.
Fresh off his win at the national championships, javelin thrower Vadim Bavikin took full advantage with a European Championship-qualifying launch of 77.13m.
In other events, Tal Mor won the 100- and 200-meter sprints, but received some assistance in the latter. When the field came around the turn, national champion Mickey Bar Yeoshua fell to the track and didn't finish the race as Mor held on for the win (21.75).
Mor won the 100m in 10.72.
In the hammer throw, national record holder Yevgeniva Zabolotniy won with a toss of 49.96m - her second best result ever.
In the shot put, both Israeli champions were victorious again. Shai Shalev took the men's competition (17.00) and Sivan Jean the women's (15.15).
The final local Grand Prix meet of the season will take place next Sunday in Tel Aviv.
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