High jumper Andra Manson, a former NCAA champion with the Texas Longhorns, did not live up to his medal-contender status at the IAAF World Track & Field Championships today in Berlin. Then again, neither did most of the other favorites.
Jumping after a hard rain that made the high jump apron slippery, almost the entire field – including Manson – failed to clear 2.28 meters (7 feet, 5 3/4 inches), a shockingly low height for a world championship. Manson finished in 9th place with a clearance of 2.23 (7-3 3/4). The competition was won by Russia’s Yaroslav Rybakov at 2.32 (7-7 1/4).
This article appears in August 21 • 2009.