Distin happy with fifth in high jump
Published:Monday | August 28, 2023 | 12:09 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
BUDAPEST.Hungary
Commonwealth Games high jump champion Lamara Distin has come a long way in the last two years.
Last night, in her second consecutive World Campionships final, she displayed how far she has come, finishing in the top eight of a major global final for the first time, placing fifth in the women’s high jump final with a height of 1.94 metres. Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine captured the world title with 2.01m, ending the reign of last year’s champion, Eleanor Patterson of Australia, who finished second with a season’s best of 1.99m. Her countrywoman, Nicola Olyslagers, was third, also with 1.99m.
At one point, Distin was among three women, Mahuchikh and her countrywoman Iryna Gerashchenko, who cleared 1.94m on their first try. By comparison, last year, she finished ninth with a height of 1.93m.
While she did not close in on a medal position, Distin expressed gratitude for how far she has come as well as the season she had despite the challenges.
“That is really a great accomplishment, and I can’t thank God enough because He is the one that brought me here. So first and foremost, I have to thank Him. And coming fifth, that is really (great),” Distin said.
Knowing that she was in the mix for a while gave her the feeling that she could produce something special. But she was unable to get over 1.97m, which would have equalled her personal best and the national record that she set last year.
“When the bar got high, then my approach started to change. I was in medal contention, but I felt like if I cleared 1.97 on my first attempt, that would have put me in a better position. I just have to go back to the drawing board, fix things, and come back next year,” Distin said.
In a season where she made vast improvement as well as competed in her first Diamond League event, Distin said that she gave herself high marks for what she has achieved this season.
“I would give it a nine. It was a great season. I am just speechless right now because I am grateful to have come fifth.” Distin said.