The Madrid results posted by Kebba Tolbert earlier today, included this
long jump summary:
Official Result Women - LONG JUMP
Pos Athlete Nat Mark Wind
1 Kravets Inessa UKR 6.76 +1.1
2 Johnson Jade GBR 6.69 +1.5
3 Goulbourne Elva JAM 6.68 -2
4 Rublyova Olga RUS 6.61 +1.6
5 Vaszi T¸nde HUN 6.58 +2.8
6 George Anju Bobby IND 6.54 -0.5
7 Montaner ConcepciÛn ESP 6.53 +2.6
8 Castrejana Carlota ESP 6.41 +2.5
9 Thompson Bronwyn AUS 6.21 +1.9
10 Ter-Mesrobyan Tatyana RUS 6.16 -0.9
Drechsler Heike GER DNF
Halkoaho Johanna FIN DNS
I note that Heike Drechsler, is shown as "DNF." Does this connote an injury
sustained during the competition? If so, might it represent a last "big
meet" appearance by this fine, durable champion? At 38, and with a seasonal
best of only 6.07m (19' 10 3/4"), it seems that might be the case. Anyone
have any further information?
Heike's bio on Mirko Jalava's website <tilastopaja.net> includes these
highlights of the early and late periods of her long jump career:
1981 - World Junior Record (still!) 6.91m (22'8")
1983 - 1st at Helsinki World Championships 7.27m (23'10") 20 years ago!
2000 - 1st at Sydney Olympic Games 6.99m (22'11")
In 1995, she set a world record of 7.44 (24'4 3/4") and twice bettered that
with 7.45m in 1996. Her personal best of 7.48 (24'6 1/2") came in July of
1988, a month after Chistyakova of Russia had reached the present world
record of 7.52m. In 1992, she had a wind-assisted 7.63 (25') at
Sestriere--still the greatest distance ever recorded in the event.
Since Drechsler was the European Cup champion (6.79m) as recently as 2001,
I may well be premature in writing her off for future accomplishments. I
hope so.
