Oy vey! Zacharias clears fourth WR of season: 1.80!

Germany’s Thomas Zacharias just adds to his legend — and M60 world outdoor HJ record. On Thursday he cleared 1.80 meters (5-10 3/4) at his usual venue: Arrecife, Spain. On a Track & Field News message board, we also learn that he’s on a German message board debating the merits of the straddle technique vs. the flop. Also, video is available of his 1.78 jump of several weeks ago.


A rough translation of a German post:

Zacharias improves M60-WR for the fourth time: 1,80m With 19.
Leichtathletikfest control de Pista verano 2007 improved and jumped over Thomas Zacharias (*1947, USC Mainz) on Friday evening in Arrecife (Lanzarote) for the fourth time within fewer weeks the M60-Hochsprungrekord 1,80m – a centimeter more highly than two weeks ago ago in same place.
Zacharias stacked afterwards deeply: “So in form I was never bad. Not one jump was also only halfway correct. But I went times somewhat more courageously to the thing. And with something luck it good-went. Luck that I had two attempts with 1,78m and correct such a thing could. And luck, because it was simply breath thin. But that is inevitable it with extreme heights.â€
In the Leichtathletik forum of the DLV Thomas Zacharias betrayed after the match, what moves and motivates him. Click is worthwhile oneself… (28.04.07)

Related posts:

  1. Zacharias boosts own M60 world record to 5-10 1/2!
  2. Zacharias takes M60 world record to new heights
  3. Devers is human, takes fourth in French 60 hurdles
  4. Pete Magill clicks to fourth M45 record of 2006
  5. Gail Devers a mom at 39! Fourth in Millrose Games

April 29, 2007

3 Responses

  1. Milan Jamrich - April 30, 2007

    Thomas is a great high jumper. He claims that straddle is more efficient than flop. He might be right, or he might be wrong. However, his defense of straddle initiated a passionate discussion in high jumping circles. That is a good thing. It is a pitty that some people choose to attack him personally, rather than dealing with his scientific arguments. Milan

  2. Jim Barrineau - May 1, 2007

    I am coming to believe that the straddle may be the superior technique at M50 and above. I base this on the premise that the flop is superior because it allows greater speed to be used and the jumper can actually pass his/her center of gravity under the bar. These advantages diminish with age. I respect Thomas a great deal. As a young Army Lieutenant stationed in Mainz, Germany I was a teammate of Thomas’ in the USC Mainz club. In one inpromptu training session he took me from a straddle best of about 1.98 to 2.08 (in flats!). I am considering switching at M55.

  3. Michael Walker - May 3, 2007

    A great jump. The video is good as is the yell at the end. I agree with Thomas that there are some advantages for the straddle and could still be used by some jumpers to achieve world class jumps. A number of men jumped 2.30 or better with the straddle and those are still good marks. Barrineau’s comments about advantages for masters is original and has some merit.

Leave a Reply