Vlasic leaps into second place on all-time list

World high jump champion Blanka Vlasic leaped into equal second place on the women's all-time list when she cleared 2.08 metres at the Zagreb Grand Prix last night.

Vlasic, who retained her world title in Berlin this month, cleared the bar effortlessly at the first attempt before failing to break the world record of 2.09 set by Stefka Kostadinova at the 1987 Rome World Championships.

Kostadinova has also jumped 2.08.

The 25-year old from Croatia's coastal resort of Split said she was confident she had plenty of time to better the Bulgarian's 22-year-old record.

"There will be many more opportunities to set a new world record, I now want to enjoy myself and look forward to what should be a very bright future," she told Croatian television.

"I have felt for a while that I can reach great heights, higher than the 2.05 mark I cleared in Berlin and even higher than today's achievement, which is nonetheless fantastic."

"It's a great feeling, the conditions were perfect this evening and the crowd was absolutely fantastic."

"I am still overwhelmed with my world championship success but this is a very special moment and it will give me even more confidence to carry on."