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)
3 Responses
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
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.
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.
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