Wherever his year takes him, Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi may not forget his first competition of 2016. And after a sensational night for Italian high jumping in Slovakia, neither will Marco Fassinotti.
In the end, only countback separated Tamberi and Fassinotti as both men cleared 2.35m, the best in the world this year and a national indoor record by a centimetre.
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Fassinotti had held the mark after clearances of 2.34m from 2014 in Ancona and Hustopece in 2015 and now the 22nd Banska Bystrica High Jump Meet joins that list of places.
Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim had the world lead with 2.34m from last week in Malmo with Fassinotti’s previous best this winter being 2.33m.
That all changed as Tamberi went over in first attempt at 2.35m with Fassinotti achieving it at the second go to land an overall personal best.
“I did not expect such a result in my first meeting but I love it here,” said Tamberi. '(It is) one of the best surfaces. I will be back next year to attack 2.40m.'
Donald Thomas, of the Bahamas, was third (2.33m) from Great Britain’s 2012 European champion Robbie Grabarz, also with 2.33m.