Patterson to Lead the Women’s Field

The women's competition is once again held as the Milena Rezková-Hübnerová Memorial, in honour of the Czech Olympic high jump champion from Mexico City 1968. The main favourite to win the traditional Czech Olympians Club trophy will undoubtedly be last year's winner and silver medallist from the most recent World Indoor Championships, Eleanor Patterson of Australia.

The world number three, with a personal best of 202 cm, has an impressive list of achievements. Let us recall at least her bronze medal from the Paris Olympic Games, the world title from 2022, silver from the 2023 World Championships and silver from the 2022 World Indoor Championships. She will be competing in Hustopeče for the third time and has always praised the unique atmosphere of the meeting. Last year she maintained excellent form throughout the season and delivered consistently outstanding performances. We believe she will once again open her season in Hustopeče with a top-class result. There is certainly much to look forward to.

This year's women's entry list will also feature two more "two-metre jumpers". Iryna Gerashchenko of Ukraine would like to make her first competitive appearance after maternity leave in Hustopeče. She knows the meeting well and likes to return here, although she has never won it, having finished second twice. This year she may try to finally turn silver into gold.

The magical two-metre barrier has also been cleared by the young Lamara Distin of Jamaica. The 2022 Commonwealth champion and fifth place finisher at the 2023 World Championships competed in Hustopeče for the first time last year and finished third. This year she will certainly be aiming higher.

Making her Hustopeče debut will be Germany's Imke Onnen with a personal best of 198 cm, who has achieved her greatest successes indoors. Last year she finished sixth at both the World Indoor Championships and the European Indoor Championships.

The final at the Paris Olympics was also reached by the Greek champion Tatiana Gkousin (PB 194 cm), the winner in Hustopeče two years ago. Another Ukrainian on this year's start list, Kateryna Tabashnyk, has also already tasted victory in Hustopeče, and it was here that she achieved her personal best of 199 cm.