6,95 Not Enough For Victory

A fierce battle unfolded in the sector where women`s long jump crown was
contested on the last day of the Russian National Championships. In her
very first attempt, the recent European Cup winner Irina Simagina set a new
PR - 6,87 - taunting the season`s leader, two-time World Outdoor Triple Jump
champion Tatyana Lebedeva. However, Lebedeva, stayed true to her reputation
and accepted the challenge, waiting for her turn, then producing a leap of
some 6,95 m, a lifetime best.

With that, things seemed to have gotten in the proper order, before Simagina
mastered another outstanding effort in her second attempt, tying Lebedeva`s
6,95 and taking the lead on the strength of her 6,87 second best jump. The
triple jump specialist, who had only made one go at that point, stepped back
on the runway and posted a 6,90 try, reclaiming the lead.

Simagina took chances in subsequent attempts and kept fouling, while
Lebedeva, after a foul of her own in the third round, passed on her fourth
chance, then regained enough composure for two solid jumps of 6,68 and 6,91
in her fifth and sixth tries respectively.

Russian Indoor Championships

Moscow, Feb 19

Long Jump

Women

1. Lebedeva Tatyana 6,95
2. Simagina Irina 6,95
3. Rubleva Olga 6,78
4. Melnikova Irina 6,66
5. Galkina Lyudmila 6,58
6. Ter-Mesrobyan Tatyana 6,50
7. Ivliyeva Inna 6,44
8. Kolchanova Lyudmila 6,43