Caroline Hingst at the 2005 World Championships (© Getty Images)
German high jumper Ariane Friedrich had a great start to her indoor season. At a regional championship in Stadtallendorf she cleared a personal best of 1.97m at her first attempt on Sunday (13).
Two metres was still too high on a day when Friedrich improved her best from last summer by three centimetres. Indoors she had jumped 1.93m a year ago. Having clearly beaten the national qualifying standard for the IAAF World Indoor Championships 24 year-old Ariane Friedrich intends to compete in Valencia in March.
Carolin Hingst opened her season in convincing style as well. At another regional championship in Ludwigshafen the pole vaulter cleared 4.60m to win from Kristina Gadschiew (4.30) on Sunday (13). The German qualifying standard for Valencia is at 4.50m.
Jörg Wenig for the IAAF
