Vlasic wins women’s high jump

Blanka Vlasic of Croatia won the women\'s high jump at the world championships yesterday, brushing off a much-hyped rivalry with Ariane Friedrich to grab her second consecutive world title.



Vlasic, who in an upset at last year\'s Beijing Olympics had to settle for silver, cleared 2.04 metres on her second attempt, a height her rivals failed to match.



With the gold already in hand, Vlasic made three attempts at the world record height of 2.10. She failed to clear all three jumps.



Olympic bronze medallist Anna Chicherova of Russia took silver with a jump of 2.02.



Friedrich, billed as Vlasic\'s greatest threat, finished third after clearing the same height.