Bondarenko jumps to Continental Cup triumph
Marrakech (Morocco) (AFP) - Ukraine's Bohdan Bondarenko added the Continental Cup high jump title to his European and world crowns Saturday with a clearance of 2.37m, some distance off the 21-year-old world record of 2.45m held by Cuban legend Javier Sotomayor.
Despite warm conditions but with an atmosphere deadened by a poorly-attended event, Bondarenko tried three times to clear 2.43m but failed on all attempts.
Moments earlier, Russia's Ivan Ukhov, the Olympic champion, and Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim, who recently became the second-highest jumper of all time, had both ended their programme on 2.34m.Bondarenko
Elsewhere on the first day of a two-day event which replaced the Athletics World Cup and four years after its first edition in Croatia, the men's 100m was won by Great Britain's James Dasaolu (10.03sec).
The European champion edged out America's Mike Rodgers and Qatari Femi Ogunode.
In the women's 100m, victory went to Jamaica's Veronica Campbell-Brown in 11.08sec ahead of Trinidad's Michelle-Lee Ahye (11.25sec) and Dutch sprinter Dafne Schippers (11.26sec).
In the men's 400m hurdles, European champion Kariem Hussein of Switzerland set a new personal best of 48.47sec behind winner, South Africa's Cornel Fredericks (48.34).
That second place allowed Europe to finish the first day on top of the standings with 222.5 points after 20 events.
On 191 points, the Americas are second while Africa, on 164, are in third place.
On Sunday, Europe will hope to stay top with world record holder in the pole vault, Renaud Lavillenie of France expected to sweep to victory.
