Athletics: Vlasic and Lebedeva shine in Grand Prix

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Madrid, July 22: Croatia's Blanka Vlasic beat her own leading mark of the year when she cleared 2.05 metres to take victory in the women's high jump at the IAAF Grand Prix in Madrid.

The 23-year-old had room to spare as she sailed over the bar at the first attempt and went close as she tried for a world record of 2.10.

World champion Kasja Bergvist of Sweden and Spain's Ruth Beitia tied for second place with clearances of 1.95.

There was another top class performance in the women's long jump with Russian Olympic champion Tatyana Lebedeva celebrating her 31st birthday with a leap of 7.15 metres, the second best mark in the world this year.

Portugal's Naide Gomes also broke the seven metre barrier to finish second with a personal best mark of 7.01.

The evergreen Maria Mutola of Mozambique was one of three women to dip under two minutes as she breezed to victory in the 800 metres.

The 34-year-old three times world champion turned on the power down the home straight to ease past Moroccan world and Olympic silver medallist Hasna Benhassi and post a time of 1:58.80.

FINAL LEAP

The stand-out performances in the men's events came from Portugal's Nelson Evora in the men's triple jump and Youssef Saad Kamel of Bahrain in the 800 metres.

The 23-year-old Evora set a national record and the fifth best mark in the world this year with his final leap of 17.51 metres.

Kenyan-born Saad Kamel also looked in good shape when he eased to victory in the 800m with a season's best time of one minute 44.49.

Dutchman Rutger Smith won a high-profile shot put featuring the top-five ranked men this season.

Smith launched the put to a season's best 21.12 metres with his first effort to claim an emphatic victory over Reese Hoffa of the United States (20.81) and Dane Joachim Olsen (20.64).

Lithuania's Virgilijus Alekna deprived the home crowd of something to celebrate when he overhauled local favourite Mario Pestano to win the men's discus with a throw of 68.74.

Kenya's Julius Nyamu ended the night on a high when he set a meeting record of eight minutes 23.81 as he cruised to victory in the men's 3000 metre steeplechase.

Reuters>